HBH 


Capt.Ozro  J.Dodds.  Major W.H.Chamberlin. 

Adjutant  JohnRHunt.CaptCharles  Lane'     CaptW. A  Johnson. 


Surgeon W.  C.Jacobs 

Surgeon  WH.Lamme.  Surgeon  R.G.MC  Lean. 

T-     1  o  1UTTT  ir-ii       DrevetBne.Uen;K-N.  Adams.  ,,       „      .    „ 

Lieut. Col W.H. Hill.  iMajor Frank  Evans 
Major  WUlay  Henry.  t  ,         ,     ,  ,  , 


F    THE 


EIGHTY-FIRST  REGIMENT 


OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS, 


DURING    THK 


WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION 

t 
HY    W.  11.  (JHAMBEELl]Sr, 

Late  Major  of  the  Regiment. 


CINCINNATI: 

•iAZKTTE   STEAM    PRINTING    HOUSE,   COR.    FOURTH    &   VINE   STREETS. 

1865. 


C5 


PREFACE. 


In  preparing  this  Book  it  has  been  my  aim  to  present  the  History 
of  the  Regiment  as  distinctly  as  possible,  and  yet  to  make  the  ac 
count  of  its  operations  intelligible  to  the  general  reader,  by  giving 
such  accompanying  descriptions  of  Battles  and  Campaigns  as  were 
necessary.  Up  to  the  beginning  of  the  Savannah  Campaign,  I  wa> 
able  to  obtain  the  facts  requisite  for  this  plan,  but  from  that  time  to 
the  close  of  the  War,  I  was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  general 
account  of  the  movements  of  the  rest  of  the  Division,  Corps  and 
Army,  and  confine  myself  simply  to  the  doings  of  the  Eighty-First 
Ohio.  This,  however,  does  not  detract  from  the  interest  of  the  story 
to  those  who  passed  through  those  Campaigns,  as  their  own  knowl 
edge  of  events  will  serve  to  supplement  this  account. 

It  may  be  well  to  record  here  that  the  cost  of  publishing  a  suffi 
cient  number  of  copies  to  supply  one,  gratis,  to  each  member  of  the 
Regiment  serving  between  the  dates  of  June  1,  18G3,  and  January 
1,  1865.  was  defrayed  by  an  appropriation  from  the  Regimental 
Fund. 

There  was  no  provision  for  the  expense  of  portraits  in  the  appro 
priation  for  publishing  the  Book;  hence,  inasmuch  as  it  was  sug 
gested  that  they  would  form  a  desirable  feature.  I  issued  a  circular 
to  all  the  Officers  requesting  them  to  permit  the  insertion  of  their 
portrait?,  at  their  expense,  and  naming  the  lowest  sum  at  which  it 
could  be  dene.  The  result  is  before  the  ivader.  Xo  one  will  regret 
more  than  myself  the  absence  of  many  familiar  faces, — especially 
of  the  dead — but  it  is  too  late  now  to  remedy  it,  and  I  feel  that  I 
have  used  every  means  in  my  power,  without  success. 

The  design  of  producing  this  little  work  originated  in  the  belief 
that  such  a  record,  in  a  permanent  form,  would  be  acceptable  to  the 
living  as  a  memento  of  their  suflering  and  services  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  that  it  also  might  serve  as  a  slight  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  those  gallant  and  heroic  members  of  our  Regiment  who 
have  laid  their  lives  upon  their  Country's  altar.  W.  H.  C. 

ATHENS,  O.,  Dec.  1.  18G-5. 

Mlo 


CONTENTS; 


CHAPTER    I. 

ORGANIZATION — BATTLE    OF    SFULOn. 

An    Adopted    Child. — Independent  Regiment. — Under  the 

finder. — Captain  O'Kane's  Company  u  Kidnapped." — Ohio  air^ 
the  Eighty-First.— Benton  Barracks.— "  Rifles  at  Franklin.— 
Hermann. — After  Jeff.  Jones. — Pursuit  of  Cobb. — Stationed. — 
Marching  Orders. — Aboard  the  Meteor. — Pittsburg  Landing. — 
Assigned  to  Second  Brigade. — Battle  of  Shiloh. — Deatfi  of  Cap 
tain  Armstrong.— Second  Days'  Battle.— The  81st  Takes  a  Bat 
tery. — Bravery  of  Lieutenant  Post. — Victory-! PAGE  0 

CHAPTER    II. 

CORINTH — HAMBURG — BATTLE    OK    CORINTH. 

General  Davies  and  General  Oglesby. — Advance  on  Corinth. — Skirm 
ish. — Resignation  and  Promotions. — March  to  Boonville. — Brig 
ade  Drills. — Cutting  •  Down  a  Forest. — Recruiting  Party  Sent 
North. — Hamburg. — Sergeant  Howell's  Adventure  on  Steamer 
Terry. — Lieutenant  Irion  the  Last  Commandant  at  Shiloh. — Re 
turn  to  Corinth.— Battle  of  luka.— Battle  of  Corinth.— Almost 
a  Defeat. — Death  of  General  Hackelrnan. — Brilliant  Charge. — 
General  Oglesby  Wounded. — Anxious  Night. — Second  Day. — 
Rebels  Defeated.— Loss  of  81st  Ohio.— Serg't  McCall__.PAGF,  20 

CHAPTER    III. 

PURSUIT    OF    PRICE — GARRISON    DUTY. 

To  Bridge  Creek.— Frightened  Contrabands.— Night  March. — Truce 
Party. — Return. — General  Dodge. — <;  Massa  Lied  " — Arrival  of 
Five  New  Companies. — Their  Reception. — Drill. — How  Water 
Was  Furnished. — Festivities. — Colored  Weddings jPAGK  34 

CHAPTER    IV. 

WINTER    AT   CORINTH. 

Expedition  to  Tupelo. — Return. — Forrest  Cuts  the  Railroad. — Hh'.f 
Rations. — Bliss  of  Ignorance. — Fruitless  March. — Muddy  Trip. 
— Night  on  a  Barge. — Naval  Expedition. — A  Wheel  Breaks. — 
Back  to  Corinth. — Model  Camp. — Celebration  of  Shiloh_.PAOE  4:' 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    V. 

EXPEDITION    TO    TUSCUMBIA. 

Fording  Bear  Creek.— Fight  with  Roddy.— Object  of  the  Expedi 
tion. — Skirmish  at  "Hock  Cut." — Tuscumbia  Taken. — Colonel 
Straight  Departs  at  Midnight. — Demon strr.tion  at  Town  Creek. 
— Grand  Skirmish  Line. — Return  to  Corinth.— Summer  Quar 
ters PAGE  51 

CHAPTER    VI. 

rOCAHONTAS   AND    PULA8KI. 

March  to  Pocahontaa.— Terrific  Storm— Good  Living.- General  Og- 
lesby's  Farewell  Address.— Building  Winter  Quarters.— Good  by 
"Camp  Brough."— March  to  Pulaski,  Tennessee.— Muddy  Biv 
ouac.— Lumber  that  Could  Walk.— Milling.— Regiment  Divided. 
—General  Dodge's  Plan  for  Foraging.— Captain  Hill  Superin 
tendent  of  Mills PAGE  61 

CHAPTER     VII. 

AT   PULASKI. 

Little  Johnny  Nott  Captures  a  Captain.— Routine  of  Duty.  —Re-en 
listing  as  Veterans. — ToLynnville. — Guerrilla  Captures.  -To  Pu 
laski  Again. — Rail  Making  on  Martin's  Plantation. — A  Sudden 
Movement. — Military  Execution PAGE  69 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

ATLANTA   CAMPAIGN — FROM   PULASKI   TO   RESACA. 

Anniversary  of  Advance  on  Corinth.— First  Day's  March.— Taking 
Cars. — Chickamauga. — Snake  Creek  Gap. — Skirmish  at  Resaca.  — 
Why  Resaca  was  not  Captured. — "Johnston's  Coming!"  __PAGE  78 

CHAPTER    IX. 

ATLANTA    CAMPAIGN — FROM    SNAKE     CREEK     GAP    TO    LAY'S 

FERRY. 

The  First  Ditch.— The  Union  Hosts  Marshaled.— Battle  of  Resaca. 
Laying  Pontoons. — Oostenaula  River. — "  Muslin   Ships.1' — Who 
Shall  Cross?— The  Forlorn  Hope.—"  Too  Late ["—Success.— Three 
Capture  Eleven.— Close  of  Battle  at  Resaca.— Pontoons  Laid.  - 
Enemy  Charge.— Color-Bearer  Wounded PAGE  84 


CONTENTS.  7 

CHAPTER    X. 

ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN — PROM    LAY'S    FERRY  TO  BIG  SHANTY. 

Battle  of  Rome  Cross  Roads. — Enemy  Driven. — Colonel  Burke 
Wounded. — Grand  Race. — Johnston  Stops  to  Fight  at  Etowah 
River — But  Runs  Again. — McPherson  Makes  a  Second  Flank 
Movement. — Van  Wert.— Dallas. — Rebel  Assault.— Rice's  Brigade 
Repulses  It. — Fatal  Skirmishing. — Rebels  Interrupt  a  Movement. 
— Night  Attack. — Fire  Works  on  a  Grand  Scale. — General  Dodge 
as  Ordnance  Officer. — General  McPherson's  Tiger  Hard  to  Let 
Go. — Colonel  Mersey  Gets  Out  of  a  Trap. — March  to  Acworth. — 
To  Big  Shanty PAGE  94 

CHAPTER    XI. 

ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN— FROM  BIG   SHANTY    TO    KENNESAW 
MOUNTAIN. 

Enemy's  Watch  Tower.— Skirmish   Firing.— Artillery  -Combats 

"Old  Leather  Breeches."— A  Picket  Truce.-^TJnceremoniously 
Closed.— Rebels  Fall  Back.— General  Sherman  Going  Into  Ma 
rietta.— Kennesaw  in  His  Way.— A  Locomotive  on  Picket.— Com 
fortable  Prospect.— Advance  on  the  27th  of  June PAGE  109 

CHAPTER    XII. 

ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN — FROM    KENNESAW    MOUNTAIN    TO    NEAR 
ATLANTA.  I 

Artillery  Practice.— Soldiers'  Concert.— McPherson  to  Make  Another 
Flank  Movement. — Kennesaw  Ours! — Nickajack  Creek. — Novel 

Celebration    of    July  4th. — Lieutenant    Lockwood  Wounded. 

Battle  of  Ruff's  Mills.— On  to  the  Chattahoochee.— Fletcher  B 

Haynes.— From  Right  to  Left.— What  a  Dying  Mule  Can  Do 

Hot  March. — Roswell. — Fording  the  Chattahoochee. — Advance 
en  Atlanta. — Decatur. — Closing  In  Around  Atlanta PAGE  116 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN — BATTLES  OF   JULY  22D    AND  28TH. 

Hood's  Stratagem. — Defeated  by  Accident. — Skirmishing  in  the 
Rear  ! — General  Sweeney's  Command  in  Line  of  Battle. — The 
Enemy! — Desperate  Fighting! — Victorious  Charge. — General 
McPherson  Killed.— Fifteenth  Corps  Assaulted.— DeGres'  Bat 
tery  Taken. — Colonel  Mersey's  Brigade  Helps  to  Regain  It. — 
"  Killed,"  Captain  Charles  Lane. — Lieutenant  Hoover. — Colonel 
Mersey  Parts  from  His  Command.— To  the  Right.— Battle  of  the 
28th. — Siege  of  Atlanta. — Resignations. — Promotions. — General 
Dodge  Wounded.— Exploit  of  Corporal  Harpster PAGE  130 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTBE    XIV. 

"  ATLANTA    OURS,  AND    FAIRLY    WON." 

Final  Flank  Movement. — Army  of  the  Tennessee  Again  on  the 
Right.— Destroying  Railroad.— Contrabands  Delighted.— Battle 
of  Jonesboro.— Atlanta  Taken  !— To  Lovejoy's.— Back  to  East 
Point— M.  R.  Blizzard  Died.— "A  Full  Month's  Rest."— Muster 
•Out  of  Non-veterans PAGE  141 

CHAPTEH    XV. 

THE  MARCH  FROM  ATLANTA  TO  THE  SEA. 

To  Rome.' — Left  Wing  16th  Army  Corps  Discontinued. — Promotions. 
— Hood  Tries  to  Drive  Sherman  Northward. — Beginning  of  a 
Long  Journey. — Atlanta  Destroyed. — Thanksgiving  Dinner  in 
Georgia.— Palm  Trees.— A  Lost  Brigade— Fight  at  Eden.— Col 
onel  Adams'  Brigade  Captures  Artillery,  &c. — F.  B.  Hayncs 
Killed.— Fort  McAllister  Taken.— Daring  Feat  of  Captain  Mc 
Cain,  Lieutenant  Pittman  and  Their  Parties. — Into  Savannah. — 
Feasting. — General  Logan  Returns PAGE  147 

C  HAFT  Ell     XVI. 

THROUGH    THE    CAROLINAS    TO    PEACE. 

To  Sister's  Ferry. — Entering  the  "Kingdom"  of  South  Carolina. — 
Difficultiea — Columbia  Captured. — Colonel  Adams  Takes  Cam- 
,}en. — "Bummers"  Have  a  Fight. — Terrific  Explosion  at  Cher- 
aw. — Respect  for  North  Carolina  Loyalty. — Battle  at  Benton- 
ville. — General  Sherman's  Order. — Ragged  Review.-— Two  New 
Companies. — Night  March  to  Pikeville. — Raleigh. — Lee's  Sur 
render  ! — Morrisville. — Johnston  Surrenders ! — The  War  Over  ! 
•;  Homeward  March." — Mustered  Out  at  Louisville. — Paid  and 
Discharged  at  Camp  Dennison. — Home. — Summary___PAGE  157 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE    RANK    AND    FILE    OF   THE    EIGHTY-FIRST   OHIO. 

Kxplanation. — Field  and  Staff. — Changes  Therein. — Original  Mem 
bers  of  Company  A.— Its  Casualties. — The  Same  of  Companies  I> 
and  C. — Compilation  from  Muster-Out  Rolls  of  Companies  D,  E 
:ind  F.— Original  Members  of  Company  G.— Its  Casualties.— The 
-6ame  of  Companies  II  and  I. — Extracts  from  Muster-Out  Roll 
of  Company  K. — The  New  Companies  B  and  C — List  of 
-Wounded-  _ .PAGE  ICO 


HISTORY 

OF    TIIE 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  IIFUTRT  YOLUITEEBS, 


CHAPTER  I. 

ORGANIZATION — BATTLE  OF  SHILOH. 

This  regiment  had  an  organization,  which,  perhaps,  is 
unlike  that  of  any  other  regiment  sent  into  the  field  from. 
Ohio.  It  is  an  adopted  child  of  the  State,  not  one  "  to  the 
manor  born." 

In  August,  1861,  the  20th  Ohio  (three  months'  regiment) 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  For  some  reason  its  field 
officers  were  not  appointed  to  re-organize  it  for  the  three 
years'  service,  as  was  the  case  with  most  of  the  other  three 
months'  regiments  from  Ohio.  Its  Colonel,  however,  with 
a  portion  of  the  Field  and  Staff,  conceived  the  idea  of  rais 
ing  an  independent  regiment,  without  the  aid  of  the  State.' 

At  that  time,  General  Fremont,  commanding  in  Mis 
souri,  had  undertaken  the  Herculean  labor  of  not  only 
commanding,  but  also  of  creating  his  army.  Through  his 
influence,  the  orders  of  the  War  Department  were  such 
that  any  one  could  enlist  men  for  his  army,  and  could 
have  them  mustered  singly,  or  in  squads,  or  companies, 
and  forwarded  to  his  headquarters  at  St.  Louis. 

With  one  of  General  Fremont's  Staff  officers,  R.  M.  Cor- 


30  HISTORY  OF  THE 

wine,  of  Cincinnati,  Colonel  Thomas  Morton,  formerly  Col 
onel  of  the  20th  Ohio,  made  a  contract  to  raise  a  full  reg 
iment,  which  was  to  be  armed  with  the  best  of  rifles, 
and  was  to  be  known  as  ;'  Morton's  Independent  Rifle 
Regiment." 

The  idea  of  independence,  as  well  as  that  of  carrying 
the  best  weapon — the  rifle — was  tempting  to  many.  To 
others,  the  name  of  the  Pathfinder  had  a  peculiar  charm, 
and  they  \vere  ambitions  to  follow  in  the  steps  of  such  a 
leader.  To  most,  however,  the  fact  that  they  were  at  once 
transferred  to  the  enemy's  country,  instead  of  lying  for 
weeks  at  home  in  camp,  was  most  acceptable,  and  early  in 
September  a  very  good  basis  for  a  regiment  was  collected. 

By  some  bad  management,  however,  one  full  company, 
that  of  Captain  Peter  O'Kane,  of  Eaton,  Ohio,  after  hav 
ing  been  sent  to  St.  Louis,  as  the  first  fruits  of  the  "  Inde 
pendent  Regiment,"  was  actually  taken  possession  of  by 
Colonel  Crafts  J.  Wright,  of  Cincinnati,  who  was  also  or 
ganizing  an  independent  regiment,  and  was  incorporated 
into  his  regiment.  This  loss,  together  with  the  fact  that 
one  or  two  companies  which  were  expected  to  join  Mor 
ton's  regiment  were  prevailed  upon  to  go  elsewhere,  de 
layed  the  filling  up  of  the  regiment  so  that  it  did  not  seem 
likely  that  the  Colonel  would  fulfil  his  contract  in  the  time 
allowed. 

At  this  juncture,  State  pride  fortunately  intervened. 
Colonel  Morton  had  taken  some  five  or  six  hundred  men 
from  Ohio  into  the  United  States'  service,  beyond  the  con 
trol  of  the  State.  Although  no  draft  was  then  feared,  and 
"quotas"  were  far  more  than  filled,- yet  the  State  desired 
to  have  credit  for  all  the  men  furnished,  and  to  number  as 
many  regiments  as  her  neighbors.  The  State  was  not 
slow,  then,  to  accept  the  proposition  to  take  the  "  Inde 
pendent  Regiment "  into  its  fold,  and  give  it  a  name. 

It  was  numbered  the  Eighty-first  Ohio  Infantry  Volun- 


EIGHTY-FIRST   OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  11 

teors.  It  was  agreed  that  the  officers  already  appointed 
should  be  commissioned  by  the  Governor,  and  the  State 
authorities  were  pledged  to  use  every  endeavor  to  have  the 
regiment  filled  to  the  maximum. 

Bonton  Barracks  was  the  rendezvous  of  all  the  troops 
sent  to  Fremont's  Department.  In  the  spacious  quarters 
and  ample  grounds  of  that  well  known  military  Camp  of 
Instruction  the  regiment  entered  on  its  first  military  du 
ties.  Drill  and  guard  duty  were  the  daily  routine  during 
the  short  time  the  regiment  remained  at  that  place.  On  the 
24th  of  September,  1861,  the  detachment  received  march 
ing  orders,  and  on  the  following  day  was  taken  to  Frank 
lin,  Missouri,  on  the  Pacific  Railroad,  under  command  of 
Captain  R.  N.  Adams,  there  being  no  field  officer  present. 
There  the  men  received  arms.  Imagine  the  surprise  and 
indignation  of  the  "  Rifle  Regiment "  when  they  found 
that  they  were  receiving  old  United  States  muskets,  for 
buck  and  ball,  formerly  flint  locks,  but  now  changed  to 
percussion  !  But  as  they  were  assured  this  was  but  a  tem 
porary  arrangement,  to  equip  them  for  an  emergency,  the 
complaint  was  not  loud.  In  a  day  or  two  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Hermann,  Missouri,  still  farther  west  on 
the  river  and  railroad.  Here  the  regiment  went  into 
camp,  and  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  John  A. 
Turley,  was  industrious  in  drill,  and  attained  a  tolerable 
degree  of  skill  in  the  evolutions.  The  regiment  now  had 
reached  its  maximum,  not  the  legal,  but  the  possible. 
Counting  Captain  O'Kane's  company,  which  had  been 
spirited  away,  it  numbered  eight  companies,  of  which  but 
four  were  full.  At  this  time  the  real  organization  was  as 
follows  :  Company  B.,  Captain  Armstrong,  recruited  at 
Lima,  Allen  county,  Ohio ;  Company  C.,  Captain  Adams, 
recruited  at  Greenfield, Highland  county,  Ohio;  Company 
D.,  Captain  P.  A.  Tyler,  recruited  at  Sankusky,  Ottawa 
county,  Ohio;  Company  E.,  Captain  Taylor,  recruited  at 


12  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Lima,  Allen  county,  Ohio  ;  Company  F.,  Captain  Dodds, 
recruited  at  Buena  Yista,  Adams  county,  Ohio ;  Company 
G.,  Captain  Kinsell,  recruited  at  Mt.  Gilead,  Morrow  coun 
ty,  Ohio,  and  Company  II.,  Captain  Hughes,  recruited  at 
Lima,  Allen  county,  Ohio.  The  aggregate  was  nearly  six 
hundred,  exclusive  of  Captain  O'Kane's  company. 

In  November  of  that  year,  rumors  came  of  a  rebel  force 
collecting  in  Callaway  county,  across  the  river,  under  one 
Colonel  Jeff.  Jones.  General  Prentiss,  who  was  then  at 
Jefferson  City,  ordered  the  81st  Ohio  and  the  10th  Missou 
ri,  with  a  section  of  German  Home  Guard  artillery  from 
Hermann  by  railroad  to  St.  Auberts,  where  a  boat  was  in 
readiness  to  ferry  across  the  Missouri.  It  required  twenty- 
four  hours  to  make  this  movement,  and  it  was  nearly  dark 
when  the  crossing  was  completed.  It  was  about  fifteen 
miles  from  the  place  of  crossing  to  the  rebel  camp,  and 
the  march  was  to  be  made  that  night.  The  troops  were  in 
high  spirits.  Elated  with  the  novelty  of  the  hour  and  the 
imagined  victory  that  awaited  them,  they  went  gaily  along. 
At  daybreak  the  camp  was  neared,  and  a  halt  and  rest  was 
ordered.  When  the  march  was  resumed  it  was  but  a  little 
while  until  our  forces  entered  the  town  of  Fulton,  only  to 
learn  that  the  rebels  had  broken  up  camp,  and  had  dis 
persed,  in  accordance  with  an  agreement  made  the  pre 
vious  day  between  Jeff.  Jones  and  General  Henderson, 
who  was  commanding  State  troops  in  that  region.  Noth 
ing  was  left  but  to  return,  which  was  done,  the  steamer 
White  Cloud  conveying  the  entire  force  from  St.  Auberts 
to  Hermann. 

In  December,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Turley's  resignation 
was  accepted,  and  as  Major  Lamison  was  still  in  Ohio,  Col 
onel  Morton  was  the  only  field  officer  present. 

December  20,  1861,  guerrillas  in  Northern  Missouri  tore 
up  the  North  Missouri  railroad.  Orders  came  immediate 
ly  for  the  force  at  Hermann  to  cross  and  march  to  the 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  13 

railroad  for  the  purpose  of  driving  out  the  troublesome 
bands.  The  weather  was  extremely  cold,  and  there  was 
no  boat  on  which  to  cross.  A  day  or  two  was  frittered 
away  in  attempts  to  cross  with  skiffs.  At  length  a  ferry 
boat  from  down  the  river  was  obtained,  and  the  crossing 
effected  by  midnight  of  the  of  24th  of  December.  Snow 
was  on  the  ground  and  the  weather  was  extremely  cold, 
yet  the  troops  gathered  around  their  fires  and  were  com 
fortable.  The  first  day's  march  brought  the  force  to  the 
railroad  at  High  Hill.  That  night  a  refugee  from  Dan 
ville,  nine  miles  distant,  brought  word  that  a  band  of  rebels 
under  Cobb  were  in  that  town.  The  troops  were  so 
wearied  that  the  Colonel  thought  it  unwise  to  attempt  to 
go  there  that  night,  yet  it  was  necessary  to  keep  it  a  secret 
to  avoid  being  annoyed  by  voluntary  applications  for  per 
mission  to  go  and  attack  them. 

In  the  morning,  after  a  reconnoisance  made  by  Adju 
tant  Evans  and  others  of  the  81st  Ohio,  it  was  deter 
mined  to  "  move  in  force  "  upon  Danville,  the  county  seat 
of  Montgomery  County.  It  was  three  o'clock  in  the  even 
ing  when  the  advance  reached  town,  and  learned  that  the 
rebel  rear  had  just  left.  After  a  slight  halt,  during  which 
a  few  mounted  men  had  found  the  rebels  in  line  of  battle 
just  outside  the  town,  the  exciting  word  of  "  fall  in  !"  rung 
through  the  town.  In  a  twinkling  knapsacks  were  un- 
slung,  and  a  pursuit  commenced.  Yain,  however,  as  the 
rebels  were  mounted,  and  could  easily  evade  us.  Here  the 
regiment  lost  its  first  prisoner.  Scott,  of  Company  F.,  who 
was  out  as  a  skirmisher,  and  becoming  lost,  walked  direct 
ly  into  the  rebel  camp. 

We  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing,  however,  that  we 
had  driven  the  rebel  force  upon  other  troops  at  Silver 
Creek,  where  they  were  beaten  and  dispersed.  During  the 
next  two  weeks  the  regiment  was  marching  through  North 
Missouri,  sleeping  on  the  ground,  in  snow  and  sleet  and 


14  HISTORY  OF  THE 

rain,  with  no  covering  but  the  blankets  carried  along.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  it  was  stationed  at  Wellsville,  Mont 
gomery  City,  Florence  and  Danville,  on  the  N.  M.  R.  R. 
with  headquarters  at  the  latter  place. 

During  the  two  months  the  regiment  was  thus  stationed 
it  did  an  enormous  amount  of  work  in  scouting,  arresting 
accomplices  and  principals  in  the  work  of  destroying  the 
railroad,  and  in  restoring  peace  and  quiet  to  the  whole 
country  round  about. 

About  the  1st  of  March,  1862,  orders  were  received  to 
report  to  General  Halleck,  at  St.  Louis.  In  a  few  days 
the  regiment  was  gathered  together,  and  was  in  the  city. 
Colonel  Morton  reported  in  person  to  General  Halleck,  and 
received  orders  to  go  in  Barracks  until  his  regiment  could 
be  equipped  and  ready  for  the  field.  Never  were  troops 
more  elated  than  was  the  81st  regiment  upon  the  receipt 
of  that  order.  Being  an  incomplete  regiment  many  had 
thought  it  would  never  be  sent  to  the  field,  but  would  al 
ways  be  kept  guarding  railroads,  or  such  duty.  AV  ith  light 
hearts  the  boys  marched  into  Benton  Barracks  once  more. 
In  a  day  or  two  the  hight  of  joy  was  reached  by  the  reg 
iment,  upon  receiving  an  order  to  turn  over  the  hated  old 
muskets,  and  receive  new  short  Enfield  Rifles.  Scarcely 
was  this  completed  until  marching  orders  were  received, 
and  in  the  clear  moonlight  of  early  evening,  with  flashing 
bayonets  fixed,  and  martial  strains  from  its  band,  the  81st 
Ohio  made  a  triumphal  march  through  the  city  of  St. 
Louis,  and  embarked  on  the  steamer  Meteor. 

This  was  just  after  the  successes  of  Grant  at  Forts  Hen 
ry  and  Donelson,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  collection 
of  the  vast  army  since  known  as  the  Army  of  the  Tennes 
see.  Every  .steamer  almost  on  the  western  waters  was 
chartered,  by  Government,  conveying  troops  and  munitions 
of  war  to  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  this  new  army. 

The  steamer  Meteor,  with  excellent  luck,  made  an  easy 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  15 

and  quick  voyage  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  arriving  there  at 
about  midnight  of  March  17th.  Colonel  Morton,  with  al 
most  superhuman  efforts,  succeeded  in  effecting  a  landing 
of  the  troops,  and  all  stores  and  equipments  that  night, 
which  was  a  fortunate  thing,  as,  in  the  crowded  condition 
of  the  landing  at  that  time,  troops  were  often  compelled 
to  remain  on  board  the  crowded  and  filthy  boats  for  sev 
eral  days  in  succession. 

Dull  indeed  was  the  prospect  as  the  soldiers  awoke  that 
morning  from  their  brief  hour  of  sleep.  A  wilderness  lay 
before  them;  behind,  was  many  a  weary  mile  back  to 
home  and  civilization.  As  they  sat  on  the  ground  in  that 
little  corn-field,  afterward  the  Hospital  ground,  many  a 
tender  line  was  written  to  the  far-off  friends  in  the  distant 
North. 

Tents  were  soon  pitched  near  the  old  army  Post-office, 
and  the  regiment  patiently  awaited  orders.  As  isolated 
regiments  were  arriving  daily,  it  was  several  days  before 
they  could  be  assigned.  In  a  few  days  the  81st  Ohio  was 
assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  removed  its  camp  to  the  place 
assigned  to  its  Brigade,  near  the  right  rear  of  that  en 
campment.  The  Second  Brigade  was  then  commanded  by 
Colonel  McArthur,  of  the  12th  Illinois,  and  the  Second 
Division  by  General  C.  F.  Smith.  The  regiment  went  ear 
nestly  into  the  duty  of  drilling,  under  the  direction  most 
ly  of  Adjutant  Evans,  and  attained  a  proficiency  that  was 
valuable  in  the  coming  contest. 

Sabbath  morning  of  April  6,  1862,  beamed  brightly. 
Aside  from  flying  rumors  of  skirmishes  near  the  outposts, 
the  most  of  the  troops  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  pres 
ence  of  an  enemy.  The  usual  morning  inspection  was  in 
progress,  when  the  sound  of  artillery  and  musketry  far  off 
to  the  front  and  left  announced  the  opening  of  the  battle. 
Orders  were  immediately  given  to  fall  in,  and  await  or- 


16  HISTORY  OF  THE 

dcrs.  Before  the  regiment  was  in  line  orders  came,  and 
were  to  the  effect  that  the  regiment  should  proceed  to  a 
bridge  across  Snake  Creek,  which  formed  the  boundary 
of  the  encampment  on  the  right.  As  soon  as  possible  the 
regiment  was  in  the  position  assigned.  Deploying  a  com 
pany  as  skirmishers,  Colonel  Morton  quietly  awaited  in 
that  deep  woods  the  development  of  events.  Louder  and 
louder,  and  nearer  were  the  crashing  of  artillery,  and  the 
continuous  roar  of  musketry.  We  could  only  guess  that 
our  troops  were  being  driven  back — we  could  see  nothing. 
At  last,  at  nearly  noon,  we  were  withdrawn  and  placed  in 
position  on  our  own  color  line.  The  first  evidences  of  our 
discomfiture  came  pouring  in  upon  us  in  the  form  of 
straggling  groups  of  wounded  and  demoralized  troops 
from  regiments  that  had  been  in  action.  They  all  told 
sorrowful  tales  of  how  their  regiments  were  all  cut  up. 
It  was  nearly  one  o'clock  when  the  81st  Ohio  first  saw  the 
enemy  approaching  its  front.  It  was  a  small  cavalry  force, 
and  as  our  position  was  favorable,  a  volley  from  the  two 
companies  on  the  right  put  them  to  flight. 

Meantime  the  conflict  on  the  left  was  progressing,  and 
the  sound  approached  alarmingly  near.  About  two  o'clock 
there  was  a  lull.  Our  line  had  fallen  back  almost  as  far 
as  it  could  or  would  go.  The  enemy,  too,  seemed  wary  of 
approaching  nearer.  At  this  juncture  General  Grant  or 
dered  Colonel  Morton  to  move  toward  the  centre  of  our 
entire  line  of  battle,  and  then  forward  until  he  found  the 
enemy.  The  movement  was  cautiously  made.  Starting 
up  a  ravine  in  rear  of  our  line,  he  proceeded  thus  for  some 
distance,  until  ho  could  go  unperceived  to  the  front,  and 
then  passed  through  our  line  of  battle  at  a  point  where 
General  Sherman  was  watching  the  movements  of  the  en 
emy.  Passing  in  a  diagonal  direction  toward  the  front 
and  left,  the  Colonel  soon  found  his  little  regiment  alone 
far  in  advance  of  our  main  line,  and  entirely  out  of  sight 


EIGHTY -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  17 

of  it.  The  ground  was  nearly  level,  but  it  was  a  forest, 
and  covered  more  or  less  with  undergrowth.  As  the  left 
of  the  regiment  (it  was  marching  by  flank,  left  in  front.) 
emerged  into  a  clear  piece  of  ground,  it  was  suddenly 
greeted  with  a  discharge  of  canister  from  a  battery  not 
more  than  two  hundred  yards  away.  It  was  directed,  no 
doubt,  at  the  Colonel  and  his  party,  who  were  riding  in 
advance  of  the  regiment.  One  of  the  Orderlies  was  se 
verely  wounded,  and  was  left.  He  belonged  to  the  4th  TJ. 
S.  Cavalry.  The  regiment  immediately  formed  line  "faced 
to  the  rear,"  and  lying  down  delivered  a  volley  or  two 
which  had  the  effect  of  silencing  the  enemy's  fire.  Evi 
dently  our  little  force  perplexed  the  rebel  commander,  and 
he  wanted  time  to  ascertain  our  intentions.  Lying  there 
we  could  distinctly  see  the  interminable  lines  of  the  ene 
my,  dotted  with  their  banners,  and  waiting  for  orders. 
Not  liking  our  position,  Colonel  Morton  ordered  a  move 
ment  a  little  farther  to  the  left,  in  a  little  ravine.  To  do 
this  a  road,  swept  by  the  enemy's  battery  at  short  range, 
had  to  be  passed.  A  company  at  a  time  ran  the  gauntlet, 
and  thus  the  whole  regiment  was  safely  re-formed  in  the 
ravine.  While  in  this  position  a  cavalry  force  of  the  en- 
enemy  commenced  a  movement  to  get  behind  our  left,  but 
before  it  was  completed,  General  Grant  ordered  the  regi 
ment  back  to  the  main  lines.  As  this  movement  was  be 
gun  the  enemy  opened  again  with  grape  and  canister,  and 
just  as  Captain  Martin  Armstrong,  who  commanded  the 
right  company,  gave  the  command,  "  by  file  right,  march  /" 
a  grape  shot  struck  him  in  the  head  and  killed  him  in 
stantly.  His  Orderly  Sergeant  caught  him  in  his  arms 
and  bore  him  from  the  field.  The  regiment  was  extricated 
without  further  loss,  and  upon  reporting  to  General  Grant, 
Colonel  Morton  was  complimented  upon  having  foiled  the 
enemy  and  kept  him  in  check  until  our  main  line  could  be 
firmly  established.  He  was  then  ordered  to  take  a  place 


18  II [STORY  OF  THE 

in  line  again,  near  the  right.  Before  this  was  completed, 
the  famous  artillery  duel,  with  which  the  first  day  ended, 
was  commenced.  Taking  position  in  line  where  it  then 
was,  the  regiment  lay  with  anxious  suspense,  listening  to 
the  unearthly  screams  of  the  shells  flying  over  or  bursting 
near  them. 

Night  brought  silence,  except  the  regular  booming  of 
the  huge  guns  of  the  gunboats,  but  it  brought  no  rest  ex 
cept  what  the  wearied  soldiers  could  gain  on  the  hard 
damp  ground. 

Morning  of  April  7th  found  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
in  line,  re-assured  by  the  timely  arrival  of  Buell's  army, 
and  ready  for  the  signal  to  advance. 

The  Second  Division,  to  which  the  8lst  Ohio  belonged, 
had  suffered  extremely  the  first  day.  Its  commander, 
General  W.  II.  L.  Wallace,  (General  Smith  being  too  un 
well  to  take  the  field,)  had  been  killed,  and  Colonel  Tuttle, 
2nd  Iowa,  had  assumed  command.  He  was  wounded, 
leaving  the  command  to  Colonel  McArthur,  12th  Illinois. 

The  regiments  had  become  scattered  during  the  day  and 
night,  and  there  being  no  time  for  regular  organization, 
provisional  brigades  were  appointed.  Colonel  Morton  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  one  of  these. 

The  advance  was  a  grand  sight.  To  the  right  and  left, 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  could  be  seen  the  blue  lines 
of  the  Federal  army,  displaying  the  bright  colors  of  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  in  beautiful  contrast  with  the  dull  leaden 
hue  of  the  yet  unclothed  trees.  There  was  a  mile  of 
inarching  before  the  enemy  was  found,  although  other 
portions  of  the  line  were  engaged.  At  last,  after  crossing 
an  open  field,  the  81st  Ohio  took  position  in  a  little  ravine, 
and  was  surprised  to  find  a  rude  breastwork  of  logs,  man 
ned  by  the  enemy,  and  completely  raking  the  regiment 
from  left  to  right.  The  rebels  were  not  slow  to  open  fire, 
and  when  it  was  discovered,  and,  that  the  shell  and  shot 
from  two  opposite  batteries  were  also  flying  through  our 
ranks,  it  was  determined  to  withdraw.  Owing  to  the  favora- 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO   INEANTRY  VOLS.  19 

ble  nature  of  the  ground,  this  was  done  with  but  small  loss. 
It  was  in  this  movement  that  the  second  member  of  the 
regiment  fell,  private  Wm.  Me.  Adams,  of  Company  C. 

As  a  portion  of  the  Provisional  brigade  was  then  en 
gaged,  and  as  Colonel  Morton  was  provided  with  neither 
Staff  nor  Orderlies,  he  relinquished  his  brigade  and  took 
charge  of  the  regiment.  The  action  at  that  time  had  be 
come  so  general  and  so  close,  that  it  was  but  a  short  time 
until  the  81st  Ohio  found  itself  again  alone,  and  closely 
confronting  a  rebel  force.  Lying  down,  the  eager  boys 
opened  a  brisk  fire,  which  was  as  hotly  returned  by  the 
enemy.  In  the  crash  of  musketry  and  the  rattle  of  the 
balls  there  was  engendered  a  kind  of  fierce  frenzy  which 
prevented  the  falling  here  and  there  of  a  comrade  from 
causing  a  single  heart  to  quail.  So  furiously  did  our  brave 
boys  ply  the  rebels  with  their  cold  lead  that  at  last  they 
broke  and  fled.  No  sooner  was  this  perceived  than  the 
81st  rose,  and  with  yells  that  spoke  their  first  feeling  of 
victory,  followed  the  vanquished  foe.  So  wild  was  their 
enthusiasm  that  they  never  halted  or  paused  until  they 
had  gone  far  in  advance  of  any  support,  and  suddenly 
found  themselves  flanked  by  both  artillery  and  infantry. 
Even  then  it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  were  withdrawn. 
In  this  charge  the  little  regiment  had  captured  a  rebel 
battery,  and  killed  all  the  horses.  It  had  also  captured  a 
number  of  prisoners.  It  was  here  that  its  principal  loss 
was  sustained.  Lieutenant  Post,  while  gallantly  cheering 
on  his  men,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  many  others  were 
killed  and  wounded. 

It  was  now  about  the  close  of  the  struggle.  Discom 
fited,  the  rebels  sullenly  withdrew,  and  left  General 
Grant  master  of  the  field.  Best,  and  caring  for  the  dead 
and  wounded  occupied  the  next  day.  Then  came  nearly 
a  month  of  inactivity,  during  which  General  Halleck  ar 
rived  and  assumed  command.  Re-organization  and  rein 
forcements  made  it  soon  the  largest  army  that  had  yet 
been  collected  during  the  war. 


CHAPTER  II. 

CORINTH — HAMBURG — BATTLE    OF   CORINTH. 

Li  igadier-General  T.  A.  Davics  was  appointed  comman 
der  of  the  Second  Division,  and  Brigadier-General  E.  J. 
Oglcsby  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  2d  Brigade, 
which  included  the  81st  Ohio. 

On  the  29th  of  April  the  2d  Division  started  toward 
Corinth.  Early  in  May  it  took  its  position  beyond  Mon 
terey,  in  the  grand  line  of  approach  formed  by  General 
llallcck.  It  was  the  third  division  in  the  line,  counting 
from  the  right.  Sherman  was  on  the  extreme  right,  then 
Ilurlbut,  then  Davies,  then  the  right  division  of  Buell's 
army.  In  Davies'  division  the  81st  Ohio  occupied  the  left 
of  the  2d  Brigade — the  3d  Brigade  being  between  it  and 
Bu oil's  force. 

There  was  nothing  of  importance  occurred  in  this  ad 
vance,  except  that  on  the  21st  of  May,  when  a  general  ad 
vance  was  ordered,  the  81st  participated  in  the  very  con 
siderable  skirmish  which  ensued,  and  lost  several' wounded. 

Major  JLamison  resigned  immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  on  account  of  ill-health.  In  May  the  Governor 
appointed  Captain  Robert  N.  Adams  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
vice  Turley,  and  Adjutant  Frank  Evans,  Major,  vice  Lami- 
son.  Major  Evans  immediately  entered  upon  his  duties, 
but  Colonel  Adams  was  absent,  sick,  and  did  not  return 
until  August. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  the  2d  Division  partic 
ipated  in  the  pursuit,  going  as  far  as  Boonvillc.  Taking 
into  consideration  the  condition  of  the  troops,  from  their 
constant  watching  for  a  month,  and  the  fact  that  the  heat 
was  intense,  that  march  to  Boonvillc  and  return  to  Corinth 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  21 

was  the  most  severe  the  regiment  ever  performed.  It 
\vas  with  a  grateful  sense  of  relief  that  the  weary  men 
encamped  near  Corinth  on  the  12th  of  June,  with  a  pros 
pect  of  rest. 

The  life  of  a  soldier,  although  often  styled  lazy,  is  never 
one  of  rest.  To  sustain  dicipline,  to  preserve  health,  and 
to  insure  safety,  there  is  a  necessity  for  constant  watch 
fulness,  so  that  to  many,  a  campaign  is  preferable  to  gar 
rison  duty.  In  this  instance  the  rest  was  little  more  than 
the  privilege  of  keeping  camp  in  one  place.  General  Da- 
vies,  the  Division  Commander,  went  North  on  sick  leave. 
General  Oglesby  relinquished  command  of  the  2d  Brigade 
to  assume  command  of  the  Division,  and  Colonel  Crafts 
J.  Wright,  22d  Ohio,  took  command  of  the  Brigade.  He 
insisted  on  the  most  industrious  drills,  himself  taking 
charge  of  brigade  drills,  that  began  at  daylight,  before 
breakfast,  and  continued  until  eight  or  nine  o'clock,  by 
which  time  both  officers  and  men  would  be  well  nigh  ex 
hausted.  How  many  a  poor  soldier  of  the  2d  Brigade 
has  reason  to  thank  the  surgeons  who  interfered  to  have 
this  well-intended,  but  mistaken  system  of  drills  abolished ! 
Thou  there  was  the  picket  duty — the  interminable  details 
I'm*  fatigue  duty,  and  the  forage  details,  and  the  Sunday 
afternoon  brigade  dress  parade,  with  its  three  hours  slow 
ceremony — all  these  combined  to  make  the  rest  merely 
nominal. 

In  this  condition  of  affairs,  about  the  middle  of  July 
the  81st  Ohio  was  detailed  to  work  on  the  grand  chain  of 
fortifications  which  General  Halleck  began  to  build  around 
Corinth.  Beginning  at  the  Kossuth  road,  on  the  south 
west,  it  had  the  duty  assigned  it  of  felling  the  timber  to 
form  abatis  in  front  of  the  line.  The  timber  was  very 
heavy — the  weather  oppressively  hot,  and  of  course,  the 
duty  was  no  light  one.  But  the  "  boys  :>  understood  how 
to  make  work  light,  and  as  the  adjoining  fields  furnished 


22  HISTORY  OF  THE 

an  ample  supply  of  green  corn,  and  the  orchards  yielded 
peaches  and  apples,  they  were  contented  and  healthy. 
For  some  reason  not  now  remembered,  the  supply  of  cloth 
ing  was  exhausted  about  that  time,  and  the  men  were  in 
a  condition  of  raggedness  never  equaled  before  or  since. 
They  often  spoke  of  the  appropriateness  of  that  kind  of 
backwoods  service  under  the  circumstances.  By  the  mid 
dle  of  August  the  regiment  had  felled  a  belt  of  timber 
three  hundred  yards  in  width,  and  extending  from  the 
Kossuth  Road  to  the  Memphis  railroad — a  distance  of 
about  four  miles.  It  made  a  mark  there  which  centuries 
can  not  efface. 

In  July  of  this  year,  by  order  of  General  Halleck,  a  re 
cruiting  party,  consisting  of  Quartermaster  Adams,  Lieu 
tenant  W.  C.  Henry,  and  Sergeants  Darling,  Johnson  and 
Pittman,  was  sent  to  Ohio  with  authority  to  obtain  enough 
recruits  to  fill  up  the  regiment.  To  this  end,  Company  H. 
was  discontinued  and  its  members  assigned  to  Company 
E.  Company  Gr.  was  in  like  manner  consolidated  with  Com 
pany  F.  This  made  five  minimum  companies  in  the 
regiment. 

About  the  middle  of  August  the  81st  Ohio  was  ordered 
to  Hamburg,  on  the  Tennessee  river.  It  marched  there 
in  an  afternoon  and  morning.  The  object  of  sending  it 
was  to  relieve  the  14th  Wisconsin,  which  was  there  on 
duty,  and  to  guard  the  public  stores  at  that  place  until 
they  could  be  removed.  The  place  was  about  to  be  given 
up.  Colonel  Morton  assumed  command  of  the  post.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Adams  was  made  Provost  Marshal,  and 
Major  Evans  was  left  in  command  of  the  regiment.  The 
month  spent  at  Hamburg  was  a  happy  and  eventful  one. 
A  little  mounted  force  was  organized,  which,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  Corns,  scoured  the  country  effectually, 
and  brought  grief  to  the  guerrillas  who  lurked  in  that  lo 
cality.  A  detail  of  ten  or  twelve  men,  under  Sergeant 
Hqwellj  was  ordered  down  the  river  from  Hamburg,  on 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  23 

board  the  steamer  Terry,  as  a  guard  for  it,  to  Paducah. 
A  gunboat  also  accompanied  as  a  convoy.  The  Terry  had 
aboard  two  steel  Wiard  guns  to  aid  in  her  protection. 
The  downward  trip  was  successfully  made.  On  the  re 
turn,  while  the  Terry  was  lying  by  one  night,  near  the 
mouth  of  Duck  River,  with  a  few  pickets  on  shore.  Napier, 
with  a  heterogeneous  rabble  of  troops,  guerrillas  and 
citizens  made  a  descent  on  the  boat,  dispersed  the  pickets 
before  they  could  reach  the  landing — captured  the  boat 
and  entire  crew,  including  several  of  the  men  of  the  81st 
Ohio.  The  gunboat  Avas  not  at  hand  to  render  assistance. 
The  guns  and  whatever  else  of  value  was  on  the  boat  was 
then  taken  off;  and  the  Terry  was  consigned  to  the  flames. 
The  pickets,  four  or  five  in  number,  who  were  cut  off  from 
the  boat,  seeing  the  capture,  determined  to  make  the  best 
of  their  way  back  to  Hamburg.  Casting  their  guns  and 
accouterments  into  the  Tennessee  River,  they  wandered 
along  as  best  they  could  up  the  river  until  they  found  a 
man  whom  they  ventured  to  trust  with  the  truth  of  their 
situation.  They  happened  to  open  their  case  to  a  Union 
man,  and  he  directed  them  to  Lexington,  on  the  Corinth 
and  Columbus  railroad,  whence  they  reached  Corinth  by 
rail  and  marched  to  Hamburg. 

While  at  Hamburg  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  was 
crowded  with  citizens  flocking  in  from  the  neighboring 
counties  to  take  the  oath.  Colonel  Adams  was  constantly 
employed  in  this  business.  Lieutenant  Irion,  who,  with 
a  detachment  of  about  twenty  men  occupied  Pittsburg 
Landing,  was  also  Provost  Marshal,  and  had  his  hands 
full  of  work  in  swearing  the  citizens  who  were  eager  to  be 
numbered  with  the  loyal.  This  was  the  last  military  oc 
cupation  of  that  classic  field  of  blood — Shiloh  battle-field. 

Long  will  the  members  of  the  81st  remember  with  pleas 
ure  their  brief  month  at  Hamburg.  The  vegetables  that 
made  their  tables  groan — the  luscious  fruits  and  melons 


24  HISTORY  OF  THE 

that  were  theirs  in  abundance — the  rare  fish  that  leaped 
from  the  Tennessee — the  rarer  sport  of  bathing  in  that 
noble  river — all  these  luxuries  of  a  soldiers'  life,  their  la 
ter  experience  taught  them  to  remember  and  appreciate. 

About  the  middle  of  September  the  order  came  to  evac 
uate  Hamburg,  and  return  to  Corinth.  All  the  public 
stores  had  been  removed  ;  only  one  little  steamer  remained. 
This,  by  order  of  General  Grant,  was  scuttled  and  sunk  at 
the  landing.  *About  this  time  the  enemy  began  to  make 
bolder  movements  against  us.  Buell  was  about  beginning 
his  famous  retrograde  movement  toward  Louisville.  Scarce 
ly  had  we  reached  Corinth  until  the  evacuation  of  luka 
began.  The  81st  was  stationed  on  the  east  of  Corinth  and 
picketed  the  roads  leading  to  luka.  Well  do  some  of  us 
remember  the  frightened  movements  of  the  cavalry  from 
luka,  as  they  chassezed  in  and  out  of  Corinth  for  one  or 
two  days.  And  we  remember,  too,  the  long,  dark  lines  of 
contrabands,  running  for  freedom  and  life  into  the  city  of 
refuge — Corinth. 

It  was  but  a  few  days  until  orders  were  received  to 
march.  General  Ord,  then  commanding  the  District  of 
Corinth,  took  command  of  the  body  of  troops  that  moved 
from  Corinth  on  this  expedition.  General  Grant  himself 
accompanied  General  Ord's  column.  General  Rosecrans 
moved  on  luka  from  Rienzi  and  vicinity  by  way  of  Jacin- 
to,  expecting  to  take  the  rebel  force,  then  occupying  luka, 
in  rear.  General  Ord  moved  to  Burnsville,  and  there 
rested,  waiting  for  Rosecrans  to  get  up  before  he  pressed 
against  Price.  He  waited  too  long,  however,  as  Rosecrans 
pushed  on  and  fought  the  battle  of  luka  alone.  General 
Ord's  column  returned  to  Corinth,  and  the  2d  Brigade  took 
up  camp  in  its  old  position,  two  miles  south  of  Corinth,  on 
the  Mobile  railroad,  at  a  place  known  to  us  as  the  "  Bri 
gade  Camp." 


EIGHTY- FIRST   OHIO   INFANTRY   VOLS.  25 

Gen.  Davies  bad,  before  tbis,  returned  to  tbe  command 
of  tbe  division,  and  Gen.  Oglesby,  tbe  idol  of  bis  men,  bad 
resumed  command  of  his  old  brigade. 

On  Thursday  evening,  Oct.  2d,  orders  were  issued  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice.  At  3  A.  M.  Gen. 
Oglesby's  brigade  was  formed  on  tbe  color  line,  but  rested 
until  after  daylight,  when  it,  with  the  remainder  of  tbe 
division,  marched  off  toward  Corinth.  Immediately  after 
the  battle  of  luka,  Gen.  Grant  had  removed  bis  headquar 
ters  to  Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  Gen.  Ord  had  been  relieved  by 
Gen.  Rosecrans.  This  left  Gen.  Rosecrans  commander  of 
all  the  troops  in  the  district  of  Corinth,  consisting  of  two 
divisions  of  Gen.  Pope's  old  Army  of  the  Mississippi  and 
the  2d  and  6th  Divisions  of  tbe  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 
Gen.  Rosecrans  had  concentrated  nis  whole  army  within 
reach  of  Corinth,  and  was  ready  for  the  blow  which  was 
about  to  fall. 

But  as  my  narrative  will  hardly  justify  me  in  going  be 
yond  the  brigade,  I  return  to  it,  where  we  left  it,  marching 
toward  Corinth  on  the  eventful  morning  of  tbe  3d  of  Oc 
tober,  1862.  When  half  way  to  the  town,  artillery  was 
distinctly  heard  to  the  northwest.  It  was  the  first  intima 
tion  to  many  that  a  battle  was  to  be  fought.  The  rebels, 
after  luka.  bad  apparently  never  halted,  but  kept  right  on 
through  Tupelo  and  Ripley  to  Pocahontas,  and  following 
tbe  Memphis  &  Charleston  Railroad,  were  approaching 
Corinth  from  the  northwest. 

As  Gen.  Oglesby  entered  the  town,  it  was  evident  that 
something  was  going  to  happen.  Troops  were  moving  in 
every  direction,  teams  were  driving  at  break -neck  speed, 
and  all  tbe  usual  business  appearance  of  tbe  town  was 
giving  way  to  inextricable  confusion.  At  tbe  same  time, 
the  sound  of  artillery  grew  more  distinct  and  nearer,  and 
orderlies  and  staff  officers  were  dashing  by  "on  hurried 
hoof."  Soon  Gen.  Davies'  division  marched  out  by  Battery 


26  HISTORY  OF  TIIE 

Robinctt,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Memphis  &  Charleston 
llailroad.  Going  but  a  short  distance  into  the  timber,  it 
was  halted,  and  here  a  stream  of  the  superfluities  of  the 
outer  camps  in  that  direction  passed  us,  going  in  to  Cor 
inth.  It  was  evident  that  the  battle  had  reached  the  posi 
tion  of  our  outposts.  Here  and  there  a  wounded  man 
passed  by.  Col.  Baldwin,  with  the  3d  Brigade,  was  sent 
off  to  the  left,  and  took  position  where  the  old  line  of  rebel 
works  touch  the  M.  &  C.  II.  R.,  about  three  miles  from 
Corinth.  The  2d  Brigade  wont  into  the  rebel  works  a 
half  mile  further  to  the  right,  while  the  1st  Brigade  was 
on  its  right.  The  line,  thus  partially  covered  by  but  little 
over  two  thousand  men,  was  nearly  two  miles  in  length. 
The  regiments  were  stretched  to  their  utmost  capacity, 
in  a  thin  line,  but  yet  there  were  immense  gaps  which 
could  not  be  filled.  The  81st  Ohio  was  placed  on  the  left 
of  the  brigade,  then  a  section  of  artillery  just  at  the  angle 
of  the  works,  next  the  12th  Illinois,  and  on  the  right  the 
9th  Illinois.  An  old  abatis,  formed  by  felling  the  timber 
for  the  space  of  three  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  works, 
had  lost  much  of  its  strength  by  time,  it  having  been  made 
by  the  rebels  before  our  occupation  of  the  place.  Beyond 
this  was  thick  woods,  whose  abundant  foliage,  yet  unhurt 
by  the  frost,  formed  an  impenetrable  cover  for  the  move 
ments  of  the  rebel  troops.  Hardly  had  the  troops  of  the 
1st  and  2d  Brigades  got  into  position  until  it  was  manifest 
that  they  were  not  a  moment  too  soon.  Every  now  and 
then  a  rebel  officer  would  ride  out  of  the  woods  to  take  a 
view  of  our  defenses,  and  it  was  evident  that  they  were 
marshaling  for  a  charge  upon  our  works.  Opposite  the 
salient  angle  where  a  section  of  our  artillery  was  posted, 
between  the  12th  Illinois  and  81st  Ohio,  was  a  little 
eminence.  On  this  the  rebels  placed  two  guns,  and  an 
nounced  their  presence  by  a  discharge  of  canister  at  our 
lines.  Our  battery  'replied  vigorously  and  with  great 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  27 

bravery,  in  a  very  exposed  position ;  but  with  unlocked 
for  impetuosity,  the  rebels,  in  overwhelming  numbers, 
rushed  from  their  cover  into  the  abatis,  and  with  demoniac 
yells  moved  upon  our  weak  line.  The  crash  and  rattle  and 
din  that  followed  was  like  the  struggle  of  two  great  mon 
sters,  terrific  but  brief.  In  five  minutes  from  the  time  the 
rebels  emerged  from  the  woods,  they  had  pierced  our  line, 
captured  several  pieces  of  artillery  and  "driven  us  from  our 
works.  Driven  but  not  defeated,  the  gallant  Oglesby 
immediately,  with  all  the  might  of  his  earnest  mind,  set  to 
work  to  rally  his  command.  The  result  was  that,  with  a 
victorious  foe  close  on  our  heels,  we  were  reformed  not  far 
from  the  line  we  had  left — shattered  and  broken,  it  is  true, 
and  missing  many  brave  men,  but  yet  resolved  to  "  do  or 
die."  Gen.  Oglesby  addressed  a  few  cheering  words  to  his 
broken  column,  and  a  new  life  seemed  infused  into  every 
soldier.  It  was  a  sure  harbinger  of  victory  to  come. 

The  1st  Brigade  had  also  been  compelled  to  withdraw,  at 
the  same  time,  from  its  position  on  the  right,  and  the  3d 
Brigade,  away  off  on  the  left,  was  nearly  cut  off,  but  suc 
ceeded  finally  in  getting  back  to  the  position  of  the  rest  of 
the  division.  The  troops  evidently  now  had  to  be  concen 
trated.  A  new  line  was  formed  in  front  of  the  "  White 
House,"  which,  while  forming,  was  furiously  assailed  by 
two  batti-rii'*  of  the  enemy,  placed  in  close  proximity  to 
our  linos.  Our  own  batteries  replied  with  spirit  for  some 
time,  when  they  were  ordered  to  withdraw.  At  the  same 
time,  our  infantry  was  withdrawn  to  a  line  a  short  distance 
to  the  rear,  running  between  the  White  House  and  Corinth. 
The  rebels  confidently  pressed  on,  but  our  lines  now  being 
compact  and  without  gaps  as  before,  we  maintained  our 
position  with  firmness.  On,  on  came  the  rebels  ,  our  troops, 
lying  close  to  the  ground,  were  unhurt  by  the  rebel  balls. 
It  was  here,  while  close  behind  the  81st  Ohio,  that  the  gal 
lant  Gen.  P.  A.  Hackelman,  of  Indiana,  was  mortally 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE 

wounded.  As  ho  fell  from  his  borso,  he  was  caught  by 
Private  C.  P.  McClelland,  and  Major  Evans  of  the  81st 
Ohio,  and  such  care  given  him  as  the  circumstances 
allowed.  All  at  once,  as  if  by  magic,  the  long  line  arose, 
nerved  to  action  by  the  sight  of  this  beloved,  dying  Gen 
eral,  and  with  cheers  that  spoke  the  determination  of  their 
hearts,  every  man  sprang  forward  !  Forward,  borne  by 
brave  hearted  men,  sped  the  bright  banners  of  every  regi 
ment.  It  was  a  grand  sight !  In  the  hottest  of  the  fray 
could  be  seen  the  now  exultant  Oglesby  riding  up  and 
down  the  lines  of  his  brigade,  hat  in  hand,  cheering, 
laughing  and  weeping  for  joy  as  he  saw  the  complete  vic 
tory  won  now  by  his  brigade  and  the  others,  which  only  a 
few  hours  before  had  been  almost  disgraced  by  defeat. 
Poor  man  !  just  as  the  charge  of  our  troops  was  about 
ended,  by  driving  the  rebels  back  upon  their  reserves,  he 
fell  severely  wounded.  Our  troops  were  now  recalled,  and 
the  day's  battle  was  ended.  So  furious  had  been  our  last 
charge  that  the  rebels  did  not  venture  another  attack  that 
night.  In  this  day's  fighting  the  brunt  of  the  battle  fell  upon 
Gen.  Davies'  division,  and  it  is  now  incontestible  that  but 
for  the  gallant  stand  and  the  brilliant  charge  made  by  this 
division  at  the  AVhite  House,  on  that  afternoon  of  the  3d  of 
October,  the  town  of  Corinth,  with  its  valuable  stores  and 
artillery,  would  have  fallen  into  rebel  hands. 

That  was  an  anxious  night.  The  events  of  the  day  had 
developed  the  fact  that  the  enemy  far  outnumbered  us. 
"We  had  already  lost  heavily  in  the  day's  battle.  The  forti 
fications  of  the  place  were  merely  nominal ;  not  a  foot  of 
intrenchments  for  infantry  was  there  ;  all  the  work  in  that 
direction  had  been  expended  in  erecting  works  for  the 
artillery,  and  even  this  was  not  complete.  Battery  Rich 
ardson,  which  played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  struggle  of 
the  next  day,  was  built  by  the  contrabands  during  the  day 
and  night  of  the  3d,  the  negroes  digging  for  dear  life  while 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  29 

a  portion  of  the  battle  of  the  3d  was  being  fought  in  their 
presence. 

At  the  Tishomingo  Hotel,  which  had  been  converted 
into  a  hospital,  there  was  sad  evidence  of  the  severity  of 
the  trial  through  which  the  2d  Division  (Davies')  had  passed 
that  day.  Every  room  was  filled  with  the  wounded,  and 
the  porches  were  also  crowded,  mostly  from  Davies'  division. 
In  the  little  room  at  the  end  of  the  lower  porch,  designated 
the  ladies'  parlor,  could  be  seen  the  three  brigade  com 
manders  of  Gen.  Davies'  division — Col.  BaldwiafSSghtly 
wounded ;  Gen.  Oglesby,  suffering  intensely  from  his 
wound,  which  the  surgeons  hardly  dared  say  was  not  mor 
tal  ;  and  Gen.  P.  A.  Hackelman,  who  was  dying.  His 
wound  was  by  a  musket  ball  through  the  neck,  evidently 
aimed  directly  at  him,  as  he  was  prominent,  being  on 
horseback. 

There  was  but  little  rest  that  night  for  the  Union  troops. 
Stanley's  division,  which  had  only  been  represented  by  a 
brigade  in  a  portion  of  the  battle  of  the  3d,  was  now 
brought  up  and  posted,  covering  Batteries  Williams  and 
Robinett,  between  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  and  Columbus 
Railroads.  On  his  left  was  placed  McKean,  whose  division 
had  been  well  represented  by  Me  Arthur's  brigade  during 
the  day.  Gen.  Davies'  division  was  placed  next,  facing 
northwardly,  its  left  resting  on  Battery  Powell  and  its 
right  covering  Battery  Richardson.  On  his  right,  in 
echelon,  was  Hamilton's  strong  divison,  which  had  as  yet 
scarcely  been  engaged.  Almost  all  the  night  was  occupied 
by  these  movements,  so  that  the  wearied  soldiers  scarcely 
had  an  hour's  sleep  after  their  almost  superhuman  exer 
tions  of  the  day.  Gen.  Rosecrans  himself  did  not  retire 
until  3  A.  M.,  and  it  was  daylight  before  all  the  troops 
were  in  position. 

Scarcely  had  day  dawned  until  the  sound  of  artillery 
and  the  explosion  of  shell  in  the  town  of  Corinth,  told  us 


30  HISTORY  OF  THE 

that  the  enemy  had  been  watchful,  too,  and  had  made  a 
bold  advance.  Our  siege  guns  and  light  artillery  replied 
so  effectively  that  the  support  of  the  rebel  battery  was 
driven  away,  and  our  skirmish  line  advancing,  it  captured 
the  two  guns  and  the  Captain  in  command.  This  battery, 
however,  struck  several  buildings  in  Corinth  before  it  was 
silenced,  carrying  dismay  and  consternation  to  the  inhab 
itants  and  the  contrabands  who  occupied  that  locality. 
The  wounded  were  hastily  removed  without  injury,  except 
one  poor  fellow  who  was  struck  by  a  shell  and  instantly 
killed  while  being  carried  down  the  stairway  of  the  Tish- 
omingo  Hotel. 

After  this  demonstration  there  was  a  significant  lull. 
Many  surmised  that  the  rebels  were  drawing  off,  while 
others  thought  they  were  preparing  for  an  assault.  The 
latter  supposition  proved  to  be  true.  About  9  or  10  o'clock 
the  storm  broke  in  fury  full  upon  Davies'  devoted  com 
mand,  Stretched  in  a  single  line,  with  no  reserves  and  no 
intrenchments,  the  wearied  troops  yielded  before  the  im 
petuous  onset  of  the  rebels.  Cheered  by  their  apparently 
easy  victory,  Price's  vagabonds  rushed  boldly  on,  hoping 
to  make  a  lodgment  in  the  town.  But  in  this  they  were 
disappointed.  Hamilton's  artillery  and  infantry  poured 
death  into  one  flank;  the  ponderous  siege  guns  and  lighter 
pieces  of  batteries  Williams  and  Robinett  threw  their 
deadly  iron  hail  into  the  other  flank,  while  Davies' division, 
rallying,  turned  upon  their  pursuers,  and  hurling  destruc 
tion  upon  their  front,  almost  literally  annihilated  them. 
A  few  stragglers  sought  safety  in  flight,  but  the  greater 
portion  of  the  assaulting  column  was  made  prisoners,  or 
lay  dead  or  wounded  on  the  field.  A  feeble  attempt  at  a 
second  charge  was  made,  but  abortively  failed.  This  was 
the  end  of  the  battle  on  the  right.  Simultaneously  with 
their  attack  here,  another  was  intended  to  have  been  made 
on  the  left ;  but  owing  to  the  almost  impassable  ground  in 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  31 

front  of  our  linos  there,  the  rebels  were  delayed,  and  the 
first  attempt  had  been  made  and  had  failed  before  the 
troops  on  the  left  were  in  readiness  to  attack.  There,  as 
on  the  right,  the  rebels  rushed  madly  to  death  ,  but  the 
ground  being  much  less  favorable,  their  success  was  not  so 
great.  They  broke  no  portion  of  our  lino,  although  piles 
of  their  dead  lay  under  the  very  guns  of  Battery  Robinett. 
It  was  here  that  the  recklessly  gallant  Col.  Rogers,  of  the 
2d  Texas,  fell  while  attempting  to  scale  the  parapet.  He 
was  buried  in  a  separate  grove,  just  where  he  fell — a  mag 
nanimous  tribute  to  the  bravery  of  an  enemy. 

Murderously  foiled  in  all  his  attempts  to  capture  Corinth, 
Price  led  away  his  remaining  troops,  retreating  as  he  came 
by  way  of  Pocahontas.  It  was  near  noon  of  the  4th  when 
the  fighting  had  ceased,  and  the  fact  of  his  retreat  became 
known.  Cheer  after  cheer  went  up  from  all  parts  of  the 
field  as  General  Rosecrans  rode  over  the  field  and  an 
nounced  the  result,  and  gave  orders  for  a  hurried  pursuit. 
Our  losses,  though  great,  especially  in  the  first  day's 
fight,  did  not  compare  with  those  of  the  enemy,  most  of 
whose  dead  and  wounded  fell  into  our  hands.  General 
Rosecrans,  in  his  official  report,  says  the  rebel  loss  was 
1,423  officers  and  men  killed,  5,692  wounded,  and  2,248 
prisoners,  among  whom  were  137  field  officers,  captains 
and  subalterns,  representing  fifty-three  regiments  of  in 
fantry,  sixteen  of  cavalry,  thirteen  batteries  of  artillery, 
and  seven  battalions.  We  captured  also  14  stands  of 
colors,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  3,300  stands  of  small  arms, 
4,500  rounds  of  ammunition  and  a  large  amount  of  accou- 
terments.  Our  loss  was  315  killed,  1,812  wounded,  and 
232  prisoners  and  missing. 

The  following  extract  from  the  farewell  address  of  Gen 
eral  Davies,  on  taking  leave  of  his  division,  on  the  25th 
of  October  following  the  battle,  will,  when  compared  with 


32  HISTORY    OF   TIIE 

the  above  figures,  tell  how  his  division  responded  to  the 
demands  made  on  it  during  this  battle. 

*  *  *  *  *  #  * 

"  The  3d  was  a  trying  day  for  us,  and  at  2  o'clock,  1,785 
officers  and  men  of  this  Division  had  to  meet  the  army  of 
Van  Dor  n  and  Price  at  the  White  House.  The  thunder 
of  our  artillery  and  the  rattle  of  our  musketry  bespoke  a 
contest  seldom  equaled  in  stubbornness  on  both  sides. 
Once  we  repulsed  them  with  leaden  hail,  once  with  the 
bayonet,  and  once  and  last  with  pure  obstinacy,  and  victory 
perched  upon  our  banners. 

"  Worn  and  exhausted,  but  never  tired  of  doing  duty,  the 
Division  was  again  attacked  on  the  4th,  and  again  our 
victorious  flag  waved  over  the  heaps  of  rebel  slain,  result 
ing  in  casualties  to  us  of  1,004,  capturing  1,046  prisoners, 
and  ten  stands  of  the  enemies'  colors." 


The  loss  of  the  81st  Ohio  in  this  battle  was  as  follows  : 

COMPANY  B.,  CAPTAIN  J.  W.  TITUS  COMMANDING. 

KILLED.  —  First  Sergeant,  John  Johnson  ;  Corporal 
Abraham  Fulmer  ;  Privates  William  Rankins,  G.  H.  Ad- 
gate,  John  Armour. 

WOUNDED.  —  First  Lieut.  James  H.  Corns  ;  Sergeant  Gid 
eon  Ditto  ;  Corporals  Hiram  Bobbins,  F.  Downs,  F.  M. 
Hartshorn  ;  Privates  John  Linton,  Christian  Lehman, 
George  Trucsdale,  W.  D.  Cunningham,  M.  Richards,  B. 
Franklin,  Thomas  Shaw  Isaac  Lehman,  W.  F.  Mallbie, 
Isaac  McGrady,  Win.  Woley. 

COMPANY  C.,  FIRST  LIEUT.  W.  H.    CHAMBERLIN   COMMANDING. 

KILLED.  —  None. 

WOUNDED.—  Sergeants  W.  H.  Scroggs,  Charles  Depoy, 
Wm.  W.  Merrill  ;  Privates  Calvin  P.  McClelland,  James 
W.  Cowman,  Albert  Kinnamon. 

Wounded  and  missing,  Private  Amos  Swartz,  (never 
since  heard  from.) 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOL.  33 

COMPANY  D.,  CAPTAIN    P.  A.  TYLER   COMMANDING. 

KILLED. — Corporal  Henry  Hardly  ;  Privates   Caleb  Fo 
gle,  John  F.  Rose. 

WOUNDED. — Sergeant  W.  D.  Tyler  ,  Privates  Hugh  L. 
Carlisle,  John  V.  Bushong,  Charles  S.  Keys,  William  Da 
vis,  M.  W.  Kimmel. 

COMPANY  E.,  FIRST  LIEUT.  JOHN  L.  HUGHES  COMMANDING. 

KILLED. — None. 

WOUNDED. — Corporal  Philip  Hoot;  Privates  William 
Grant,  James  W.  Bailey,  James  F.  M'Ginnis,  George 
Keith,  Lewis  Swearingen,  Alvero  Curtis. 

COMPANY  F.,  CAPTAIN    OZRO  J.  DODDS   COMMANDING. 

KILLED. — Corporal  Abner  McCall ;  Privates  Daniel  H. 
Brown,  L.  P.  Gifford. 

WOUNDED. — Sergeant  David  McCall,  mortally ;  Corporal 
Ira  Hartwell ;  Privates  George  Easter,  John  Ford.  Marcus 
Newland,  George  Crowl,  John  Hayslip,  W.  H.  McCandless. 

MISSING. — John  P.  Porter,  S.  Corwin. 
Total,  11  killed,  44  wounded,  3  missing. 

When  the  81st  Ohio  advanced  on  Saturday  morning, 
the  4th,  to  meet  the  foe,  Sergeant  David  McCall,  its  color 
bearer,  was  the  first  to  fall.  He  was  mortally  wounded 
by  a  musket  ball  in  the  abdomen.  At  Pittsburg  Landing, 
although  unable  for  duty,  rising  from  a  sick  bed,  he,  un 
scathed,  bravely  carried  our  flag  through  those  two  terri 
ble  days.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  excitement  of  that 
conflict  was  over,  he  was  taken  seriously  sick,  and  was 
sent  North,  where  he  lay  for  a  long  time  while  his  life  was 
despaired  of.  But  he  finally  recovered,  and  returned  to 
his  regiment  but  a  short  time  before  this  battle.  He  was 
a  brave  man,  and  fell  while  bearing  his  flag  forward. 
Long  will  his  memory  live  in  the  hearts  of  his  comrades. 
2 


34  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTEK  III. 

PURSUIT  OF  PRICE  AND  GARRISON  DUTY. 

As  General  Hosecrans  intimated,  the  whole  army  moved 
in  pursuit  on  Sunday  Morning — McPherson's  Brigade, 
which  had  arrived  the  previous  day,  just  after  the  battle, 
taking  the  advance.  The  81st  Ohio  was  so  near  the  last 
of  the  column  that  it  was  delayed  greatly,  and  at  four  P. 
M.,  it  was  hardly  four  miles  from  Corinth.  At  this  point 
an  order  was  received  detaching  it,  and  sending  it  to  hold 
a  bridge  on  Bridge  Creek,  southwest  of  Corinth,  where  it 
was  reported  a  force  of  rebel  cavalry  was  about  to  cross. 
The  march  of  nearly  six  miles  was  made  in  forced  time, 
and  many  members  of  the  regiment  can  remember  its  se 
verity.  The  weather  was  dry  and  unusually  warm,  the 
roads  were  very  dusty,  and  water  was  not  to  be  obtained. 
Never,  perhaps,  did  the  boys  so  gladly  greet  a  stream  as 
they  did  Bridge  Creek  on  reaching  it  that  evening.  No 
rebels,  however,  were  found  in  that  vicinity,  and  the  com 
mand  rested  undisturbed.  That  evening  a  little  guerrilla 
force  made  an  attack  on  the  camp  of  our  division  below 
Corinth,  which  was  then  occupied  only  by  convalescents 
and  non-combatants.  The  scene  was  described  as  intensely 
ludicrous,  as  the  flight  of  the  frightened  contrabands,  and 
others,  to  Corinth  was  in  progress.  However,  a  few  of 
the  abler  bodied  soldiers  formed,  and  with  a  little  show  of 
resistance,  drove  the  invaders  off,  killing  several  of  them. 
One  who  was  killed  was  well  known  to  many  of  our  sol 
diers,  lived  but  a  mile  or  two  away,  had  often  been  in 
camp,  and  had  his  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Government 
of  the  United  States  in  his  pocket  at  the  time  he  was  shot. 

The  81st  remained  two  or  three  days  on  Bridge  Creek, 
and  then  was  ordered  into  its  old  camp.  To  those  who 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  35 

have  been  suddenly  called  away  from  a  comfortable  camp, 
such  as  ours  was  there,  and  who  have  spent  a  week  in  bat 
tle  and  marching,  not  to  mention  partial  fasting  and  loss 
of  sleep,  it  may  well  be  supposed  that  the  prospect  of  re 
turn  and  rest  was  cheering.  But  the  soldier  has  no  right 
to  indulge  in  the  illusions  of  hope.  Scarcely  had  the  men 
consigned  themselves  to  the  first  hour's  sleep  in  their  tents, 
until  orders  came  to  march  immediately.  By  ten  o'clock 
the  march  was  begun,  and  all  that  weary  night  the  poor 
soldiers  trudged  along  without  rest.  At  daylight  the  reg 
iment  reached  its  destination,  which  was  a  position  on  the 
Tuscumbia  River,  near  Chewalla.  It  was  considered  nec 
essary  to  guard  that  point.  Just  after  reaching  our  posi 
tion  that  morning,  and  stationing  guards,  the  wearied 
men  threw  themselves  on  the  ground  and  fell  into  a  deep 
slumber.  Most  of  them  were  shortly  afterward  aroused 
by  the  appearance  of  about  three  hundred  rebels  under 
flag  of  truce.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written 
at  that  time  tells  of  this  event : 

"I  had  just  entered  the  dominions  of  the  sleepy  god, 
when  a  guard,  out  of  breath,  touched  me  on  the  shoulder 
and  said  that  there  were  some  men  that  looked  like  rebels 
trying  to  cross  the  river,  but  they  had  no  guns.  On  re 
pairing  to  the  place  I  found  a  white  flag  flying,  and  dis 
covered  that  the  party,  numbering  over  three  hundred, 
constituted  a  for^e  which  Van  Dorn  had  sent  back,  re 
questing  permission  to  bury  their  dead.  They  had  reached 
Chewalla  on  Sunday,  where  they  were  detained  by  Gen 
eral  Rosecrans  until  Thursday,  when  they  were  sent  be 
yond  our  lines,  with  an  apology  for  having  detained  them 
so  long,  and  an  assurance  that  their  dead  were  already  de 
cently  interred. 

"  The  rebel  army  having  burned  the  bridge  at  this  place, 
they  were  detained  an  hour  or  two  in  making  a  passable 
ford  by  which  they  could  get  their  three  wagons  across. 
This  interval  was  industriously  improved  by  our  soldiers 
in  the  exchange  of  news,  sentiment,  canteens  and  money. 
It  was  a  novel  eight  to  see  the  soldiers  of  opposite  armies 


36  HISTORY  OF  THE 

mingling  together  peaceably — the  men  who,  but  a  few 
days  before,  had  met  in  deadly  array  on  the  field  of  bat 
tle.  But  there  was  no  hatred  between  them.  Principles, 
and  not  men,  are  our  enemies.  I  talked  with  a  number 
of  these  rebels,  mostly  on  the  subject  of  the  Corinth  bat 
tle.  They  accorded  to  us,  universally,  great  bravery, 
while  they  were  all  confident  that  they  would  have  suc 
ceeded  if  Van  Dorn  had  not  been  their  commander.  There 
was  no  limit  to  their  disgust  against  him.  Colonel  Berry, 
of  the  35th  Mississippi,  was  in  command  of  the  party.  He 
is  said  to  be  a  Missourian,  from  Pike  or  Hancock  county. 
A  chaplain,  Rev.  G.  W.  Rogers,  from  Liberty,  Boone 
county,  Mo.,  bore  their  flag  for  them. 

•l  The  conduct  of  the  men  was  faultless,  but  their  ap 
pearance  was  far  from  prepossessing.  Our  private  soldiers 
are  dressed  far  better  than  their  colonels.  I  saw  two  of 
their  men  wearing  shirts  made  of  damask  which  had  evi 
dently  done  duty,  at  some  time,  as  window  curtains.  Hats 
and  caps  of  all  shapes,  sizes  and  colors,  made  them  appear 
as  widely  different  as  possible.  The  only  thing  which 
they  had  in  common  was  dirt.  So  far  as  this  could  do  it, 
they  were  uniformed.  When  they  had  effected  a  crossing, 
and  had  re-packed  their  three  days'  rations,  which  General 
Rosecrans  had  issued  to  them,  in  consideration  of  having 
delayed  them,  they  took  their  way  toward  their  Southern 
camp-fires,  first  bidding  us  a  kind  and  friendly  farewell 
1  till  we  met  again.'  May  it  ever  be  our  fortune  to  meet 
foes  as  brave  and  as  honorable  !" 

The  regiment  remained  nearly  a  week  in  this  sylvan 
solitude,  with  no  kind  of  disturbance.  The  neighboring 
farms  were  laid  under  contribution  by  the  soldiers,  and 
yielded  abundant  supplies  of  sweet  potatoes,  pork,  turkeys, 
&c.  When  the  pursuit  of  the  flying  army  was  stopped, 
our  regiment  was  ordered  back  to  Corinth,  and  went  into 
a  new  camp  within  half  a  rnile  of  the  town.  Thus  ended 
what  was  then  one  of  the  most  complete  victories  of  the 
war.  Van  Dorn,  having  chosen  his  own  time,  place,  man 
ner  of  attack,  and  number  of  troops,  not  only  failed  in 
his  assault,  but  was  so  sorely  pressed  on  his  retreat  that 
he  barely  escaped  with  a  pitiful  remnant  of  his  army. 


EIGHTY  -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  37 

Thus  was  the  character  of  Western  troops  again  shown  to 
be  worthy  of  honor,  and  their  invincibility  was  established. 
»  The  remainder  of  this  month  of  October,  and  the  fol 
lowing  November,  was  spent  by  the  81st  in  garrison. 
While  Grant's  main  army  was  moving  down  through  cen 
tral  Mississippi,  this  post  was  held  by  the  troops  under 
General  G.  M.  Dodge,  who  succeeded  General  Davies. 
The  duty  was  the  ordinary  garrison  duty.  Guerrillas  and 
small  parties  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  hovered  about  us, 
making  it  a  matter  of  interest  and  of  a  little  danger  to 
venture  out  of  our  lines.  The  railroads  being  unable  to 
furnish  a  sufficient  amount  of  forage  for  the  animals  of  the 
army  at  Corinth,  the  troops  were  kept  continually  on  for 
age  expeditions,  until  there  was  not  any  corn  of  any  con 
sequence  within  a  space  of  twenty-five  miles  in  diameter 
about  Corinth. 

Contrabands  kept  coining  in  in  numerous  bands.  I  re 
member  seeing  one  day  a  squad  of  twenty,  who  had  come 
from  about  Guntown — about  forty  miles  distant.  I  asked 
them  if  they  knew  that  Massa  Lincoln  was  going  to  make 
them  all  free  next  New  Year's.  They  had  not  heard  the 
news  of  the  Emancipation  proclamation,  but  they  did 
know  that  freedom  could  be  obtained  at  Corinth.  Says 
one  of  them  :  "  Massa  tole  us  dat  you  all  Yankees  at  Cor 
inth  would  make  we  'uns  work  on  de  big  forts  tell  we 
died,  an'  den  give  us  some  beef  on  a  cracker,  an'  throw  in 
a  hole  alive  an'  bury  us  !" 

"  Why  did  you  come  here,  then?" 

"Oh,  we  knowed  massa  lied  /" 

On  the  evening  of  October  19th,  the  five  new  companies 
arrived,  which  had  been  organized  in  Ohio,  as  the  result 
of  the  labors  of  the  recruiting  party  consisting  of  Lieu 
tenants  Adams  and  Henry,  and  Sergeants  Darling,  John 
son  and  Pittman,  sent  North  in  July.  It  will  be  remem 
bered  that  the  old  troops  of  the  regiment  had  been  organ- 


38  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ized  previously  into  five  companies.  These  recruits  filled 
up  the  vacancy,  and  made  the  81st  at  last  a  full  regiment. 
These  five  companies  were  lettered  A,  G,  II,  I  and  K 
Company  A  was  organized  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  by  Cap 
tain  Hill,  Lieut.  Van  Pelt  and  Lieut.  Shatter ;  Company 
G  also  in  Allen  and  Putnam  counties,  by  Captain  Over- 
myer,  Lieut.  Sprague  and  Lieutenant  Ferguson  ;  Com 
pany  II  was  organized  in  Adams  and  Scioto  counties,  by 
Lieut.  Henry,  Lieut.  Guthrie  and  Lieut.  Honey,  and  Lieut. 
Henry  was  made  Captain ;  Company  I  was  organized  in 
Greenfield,  Ohio,  from  Ross,  Highland  and  Fayette  coun 
ties,  by  Captain  Gibson,  Lieut.  Robinson  and  Lieut.  Craw 
ford,  and  Company  K  at  Galion,  Crawford  county,  Ohio, 
by  Captain  Matthias,  Lieut.  Lane  and  Lieut.  Hoover.  The 
success  of  this  recruiting  party  was  beyond  the  most  san 
guine  expectations.  The  81st  was  now  one  of  the  largest 
regiments  in  the  service,  and  the  excellent  quality  of  the 
men  and  officers  composing  this  new  accession  promised 
well  for  the  future. 

The  reception  of  these  recruits  was  made  a  formal  mat 
ter.  They  slept  all  night  at  the  depot,  having  arrived 
late.  In  the  morning  the  old  troops  were  formed  and 
started  toward  Corinth  with  drums  beating  and  colors 
flying.  When  they  had  proceeded  far  enough  they  were 
halted,  formed  in  line  in  open  order  and  faced  inward. 
The  new  recruits  now  approached,  marching  by  the  right 
flank,  and  led  by  Colonel  Morton.  As  soon  as  the  head  of 
the  column  entered  between  the  lines  of  the  old  troops  they 
saluted  their  new  brethren  by  a  "present  arms."  When 
the  new  companies  had  passed  entirely  through,  the}"  were 
formed  as  the  old  troops  had  been,  and  the  latter  passed 
through  their  lines,  in  turn  receiving  a  salute.  When 
this  was  done,  the  whole  regiment  formed  on  the  color 
line,  and  stacked  arms.  Then  there  was  a  looking  for 
friends,  for  nearly  every  member  of  the  old  companies  had 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  39 

some  friend  or  relative  in  the  new  arrival.  The  same  day 
some  eighty  recruits,  in  addition  to  the  five  full  compa 
nies,  were  equally  divided  between  the  five  old  companies. 
The  regiment  was  now  fully  organized,  and  the  companies 
assigned  their  places  in  line  as  follows,  which  position  was 
ever  after  adhered  to.  Beginning  at  the  right,  was  Com 
pany  B,  next  Company  A,  Company  F,  Company  H,  Com 
pany  E,  Company  G,  Company  D,  Company  K,  Company 
I,  and  on  the  left  Company  C.  Thus  not  only  old  and  new 
troops  were  judiciously  intermingled,  but  also  companies 
from  the  same  localities  were,  as  far  as  possible,  placed  in 
proximity.  The  next  few  weeks  were  spent  in  most  assid 
uous  company  and  battalion  drill,  the  latter  under  direV 
tion  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Adams.  The  recruits  learned 
rapidly,  and  very  soon  it  would  have  puzzled  a  stranger 
to  distinguish  them  by  their  movements  from  the  older 
soldiers. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  the  regiment  \vas  ordered  to 
remove  to  a  position  within  the  inner  defenses  of  Corinth. 
It  was  placed  on  a  part  of  the  old  battle-field,  and  pre 
pared  for  a  winter's  stajr.  Winter  quarters  were  con 
structed  by  raising  the  tents  a  few  feet  from  the  ground, 
making  a  closed  wall  under  them  of  timber,  and  building 
a  chimney,  with  old-fashioned  fire-place  to  warm  them. 

An  engineer  force,  consisting  mostly  of  contrabands, 
was  set  to  work  soon  after  the  battle  of  Corinth,  and  the 
result  was  that  Corinth  soon  became  literally  a  walled 
city.  The  excellent  earth-works  did  not,  of  course,  form 
an  unbroken  circle,  but  the  town  was  enclosed  by  them, 
while  on  every  prominent  point  of  ground  a  well-con 
structed  fort  commanded  the  approaches.  The  character 
istics  of  the  works  were  neatness  and  strength.  They 
were  made  under  the  superintendence  of  Captains  Prime 
and  Cossak,  U.  S.  Topographical  Engineers. 

The  want  of  water  was  so  seriously  felt,  that  the  au 
thorities  determined  to  obtain  it  by  making  wells.  This 


40  HISTORY  OF  THE 

required  a  peculiar  process.  Three  negroes,  a  mule,  a  few 
pullies  with  their  ropes  and  tackle,  and  the  simple  auger 
could  sink  a  well  in  a  short  time.  The  soil  was  so  free 
from  sand  and  gravel  that  it  could  be  bored  as  easily  as  so 
much  wood.  An  auger  of  three  inches  in  diameter  was 
first  used,  and  afterward  one  of  eight  or  nine  inches,  which 
is  the  final  diameter  of  the  well,  exclusive  of  tubing.  The 
mule,  harnessed  to  a  huge  clevis-like  piece  of  timber, 
which  enclosed  its  body,  and  was  fastened  over  its  head 
at  the  end  of  a  horizontal  lever,  raised  the  auger  by  walk 
ing  around  in  a  little  circle,  and  thus  winding  the  rope  to 
which  the  auger  was  suspended,  around  an  upright  cylin 
der.  When  it  was  necessary  to  unwind,  the  driver  gave 
the  command  "  halt !"  and  the  mule  would  stop  ;  "  turn  !" 
and  the  mule  would  turn  in  his  tracks,  the  clevis  being 
made  so  as  to  turn  where  it  connected  with  the  lever. 
The  auger  was  sunk  into  the  earth  by  the  men,  the  mule 
only  serving  to  draw  it  up.  When  the  boring  was  com 
pleted,  often  at  a  depth  of  one  hundred  feet,  a  tubing  of 
plank  was  put  down  to  keep  the  wall  from  crumbling  in. 
The  water  was  drawn  by  long  cylindrical  buckets,  open  at 
the  top  and  having  a  valve  at  the  bottom  opening  upward. 
As  it  sank  into  the  water  the  valve  opened  and  it  was 
filled  ;  of  course  when  it  was  drawn  up  the  valve  would 
shut  down  and  keep  it  full.  Almost  every  regiment  had 
one  of  these  wells  bored  for  its  accommodation — all  done 
by  the  same  mule  and  negroes  who  had  enjoyed  the  mo 
nopoly  of  well-boring  about  Corinth  fora  number  of  years. 

To  show  how  the  dull  days  and  long  nights  of  winter 
were  made  subservient  to  the  enjoyment  of  our  troops 
while  in  garrison,  in  that  unprepossessing  little  town  of 
Corinth,  I  introduce  here  an  account  of  some  of  the  amuse 
ments,  written  at  the  time. 

It  is  with  a  feeling  akin  to  local  pride  that  I  announce 
that  the  festive  season  for  the  city  of  Corinth  has  actually 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  41 

opened.  To  say  nothing  of  numerous  private  balls,  held 
and  attended  by  the  indefatigable  dancing  desccndents  of 
Ham,  the  enterprise  of  some  of  the  leading  inhabitants 
has  culminated  in  a  lull-blown  theater — manned  and 
equipped  (pardon  the  nauti-military  expression,  stocked  is, 
I  believe,  the  professional  term,)  wholly  by  home  talent. 
Last  night  the  military,  and  other  denizens  of  Corinth, 
were  treated  to  the  opening  performance  of  the  Hospital 
Troupe.  The  actors  were  all  high  privates,  mostly  from 
those  detailed  on  duty  at  the  post  hospital.  The  proceeds 
of  the  entertainment  go  for  the  benefit  of  the  sick.  The 
theater,  used  recently  as  a  vegetable  market,  is  a  long,  low 
frame  house,  filled  with  plain,  hard  benches,  well  adapted 
to  a  "change  of  front,"  for  they  have  no  backs  to  inter 
fere.  A  real  stage  is  constructed,  with  foot-lights  and  cur 
tain,  and  the  flanks  display  an  excellent  imitation  of  pri 
vate  boxes.  The  orchestra,  which,  by  the  way,  was  the 
redeeming  portion  of  the  entertainment,  was  made  up  of 
amateurs  from  the  various  regiments,  Ohio  furnishing  the 
lion's  share.  The  accomplished  leader  is  a  civilian  from 
Ohio,  who  also  excels  in  the  kindred  art  of  photography — 
the  which  he  pursues  in  the  army  for  his  own  advantage, 
and  his  customers'  accommodation.  Order  was  enforced  in 
last  night's  entertainment  by  the  presence  of  a  corporal's 
guard  with  guns  and  fixed  bayonets.  It  was  a  novel  en 
tertainment — so  completely  military.  Even  the  songs,  and 
the  "  heavy  "  piece  of  the  evening — "  The  Bough  Dia 
mond  " — introduced  the  soldier  and  the  war  in  every  con 
ceivable  manner.  The  negro  came  in,  of  course,  on  such 
an  occasion.  Portions  of  the  performance  were  encored, 
and  the  audience  dispersed  with  a  rather  favorable  feeling 
toward  the  efforts  of  the  amateur  performers. 

Not  only  do  theatrical  tendencies  give  warning  of  the 
approach  of  the  gay  season,  but  matrimonial  inclinations 
also  confirm  the  fact.  The  charms  of  a  Mississippi  belle — 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE 

a  sweet  secesher — so  entrapped  a  son  of  Erin,  an  artillerist, 
that  he  to-day  became  the  happy  husband  of  his  lady 
love.  A  soldier-parson  tied  the  knot,  and  was  immedi 
ately  engaged  to  perform  the  same  kind  of  service  for  an 
other  military  couple  this  week. 

The  gayety  shadowed  forth  by  the  foregoing,  is  by  no 
means  restricted  to  the  white  population.  The  contra 
bands,  of  whom  there  is  a  large  number,  are  encamped 
together;  of  course  this  throws  them  into  "society"  a 
great  deal,  and  the  inevitable  result  is  the  growth  of  the 
tender  passion  in  the  hearts  of  the  young  men  and  maidens 
there  assembled.  The  chaplain  who  presides  over  this 
dusky  encampment,  had  a  call  to-day  to  join  the  hands  of 
two  whose  hearts  were  already  one.  Finding,  however, 
that  there  are  many  under  his  care,  who  have  been  living 
as  man  and  wife  according  to  the  slave  custom,  but  who 
have  never  been  formally  or  legally  married,  he  determined 
to  make  next  Sabbath  a  grand  conjugal  day,  at  which  time 
he  proposes  to  unite  in  the  holy  bands  of  wedlock  all  those 
who  have  heretofore  been  informally  married.  It  Will  bo 
the  wedding  day  of  their  recollection. 


EIGUTY-FIRST  OHIO   INEANTRY  VOLS.  43 


CHAPTER   IV. 

WINTER   AT    CORINTH. 

About  the  middle  of  December,  1862,  Colonel  Mersey's 
Brigade,  consisting  then  of  the  81st  Ohio,  and  12th  Illi 
nois  Infantry,  and  Battery  I,  1st  Mo.  light  artillery,  re 
ceived  marching  orders,  and  moved  southward.  At  this 
time  Gen.  Grant  was  far  down  in  central  Mississippi ;  so 
far  that,  with  no  Union  force  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  R. 
R.  farther  south  than  Corinth,  the  rebels  had  an  admira 
ble  means  in  that  railroad  of  throwing  troops  in  his  rear, 
and  of  effectually  cutting  his  communications.  To  ascer 
tain  if  such  movement  was  in  progress,  and  to  arrest  it  if 
BO,  General  Dodge  sent  -Colonel  Mersey's  brigade  upon  this 
somewhat  extended  reconnoisance.  The  troops  started 
with  five  days  rations,  but  as  the  country  was  full  of  pro 
visions  for  man  and  beast,  there  was  no  telling  from  this 
fact  how  long  the  expedition  would  be  gone.  No  tents 
were  taken,  and  the  troops,  especially  the  recruits  of  the 
81st  Ohio  had  their  first  experience  in  marching  and 
bivouacking.  The  weather  was  mostly  propitious,  and  the 
roads  in  excellent  order.  Passing  through  Rienzi,  the 
Brigade  deflected  a  little  to  the  right,  and  passed  through 
Blackland.  At  this  place,  which  was  reached  the  second 
or  third  day,  a  few  shots  were  exchanged  with  a  small 
party  of  bushwhackers,  or  straggling  soldiers,  and  a  num 
ber  of  them  were  captured.  With  this  exception,  Colonel 
Mersey  met  with  no  opposition.  He  passed  through  Gun- 
town  and  reached  Saltillo  in  a  drenching  rain.  Encamp 
ing  here,  a  portion  of  the  command  went  on  to  Tupelo, 
and  captured  several  officers  who  were  too  drunk  to  leave 
when  the  place  was  evacuated  by  the  few  troops  who  had 


44  HISTORY   OF   THE 

garrisoned  it.  Finding  no  enemy,  and  no  appearance  of 
any,  and  having  communicated  with  a  force  of  cavalry 
sent  from  General  Grant's  main  army,  Colonel  Mersey 
turned  the  head  of  his  column  homeward,  this  time  taking 
a  road  several  miles  eastward  of  that  on  which  he  had 
come.  Not  a  shot  was  exchanged  on  the  return,  and  the 
expedition  would  have  been  considered  fruitless  if  it  had 
not  brought  in  such  large  quantities  of  cotton,  mules, 
horses  and  contrabands.  When  at  Jacinto,  on  the  return, 
orders  were  received  from  Corinth  to  hurry  to  that  place. 
Early  the  next  day  the  troops  were  in  motion,  and  so  eager 
were  they  that  by  twelve  o'clock  the  brigade  marched 
into  Corinth  in  triumph,  their  bands  playing  as  blithely, 
and  the  men  as  steady  in  their  step  as  if  returning  from 
the  drill-ground.  Thus  ended  what  was  afterward  desig 
nated  by  the  regiment  as  their  seven  days'  march. 

Corinth  was  not  found  to  be  quite  so  desirable  a  place, 
on  the  return  of  the  regiment,  as  many,  while  wearied  by 
their  marching,  had  supposed  it  to  be.  General  Dodge, 
with  almost  all  the  garrison,  had  gone  northward  to  repel 
Forrest  in  his  attack  on  the  railroad  over  which  we  re 
ceived  our  supplies.  The  great  Holly  Springs  disaster  had 
occurred  on  the  20th  of  December,  and  General  Grant  was 
obliged  to  give  up  his  land  approach  to  Vicksburg  and  re 
turn  to  Memphis.  Forrest,  with  a  very  strong  mounted 
force  had  crossed  the  Tennessee  River,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Clifton,  and  had  made  serious  attacks  on  the  line  of  railroad 
which  supplied  Corinth.  In  this  condition  of  affairs,  the 
little  garrison  at  Corinth  was  suddenly  made  an  outpost, 
far  removed  from  the  main  army.  Its  means  of  commu 
nication  being  broken,  the  entire  garrison  was,  on  the  22d 
of  December,  placed  on  half  rations.  This  continued  for 
about  three  weeks,  though  it  occasioned  less  suffering  than 
many  would  suppose.  Foraging  parties  were  sent  out  as 
far  as  it  was  safe  to  venture,  and  obtained  food  for  the  an- 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  45 

imals  as  well  as  limited  supplies  for  the  men.  One  very 
annoying  feature  of  the  position  was  that  the  most  extrav 
agant  rumors  of  events  reached  us.  A  letter  written  there 
January  4th,  1863,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  bliss 
of  ignorance  enjoyed  by  the  troops  at  that  time  : 

"  Up  to  the  present  writing,  the  latest  news  we  have  re 
ceived  through  the  newspapers  is  to  the  date  of  December 
17th.  But  do  not  think  that  we  have  been  miserable  on 
account  of  the  failure  of  the  accustomed  late  papers  to 
reach  us.  Vie  have  had  no  scarcity  of  news.  Scarcely 
had  communication  been  destroyed,  until  we  had  reliable 
intelligence  of  a  bloody  fight  in  the  streets  of  Jackson, 
Tennessee,  .in  which  our  troops  were  victorious,  with  a  loss 
Of  three  hundred  killed — very  few  wounded,  because  cot 
ton  bales  were  used  for  entrenchments,  and  nearly  all  who 
were  shot,  were  struck  in  the  head.  We  also  had  un 
doubted  information  of  the  capture  of  Eichmond.  Gen 
eral  Banks  had  sailed  up  James  River,  landed,  and  made 
a  vigorous  attack  in  the  rear.  This  great  fact  continued 
to  be  true  for  severalMays,  when  our  attention  was  drawn 
to  Lee  and  Burnside.  Lee  had  followed  Burnside  across 
the  Rappahannock,  defeated  him,  and  afterward  encoun 
tered  Sigel,  who,  aided  by  Burnside's  shattered  forces, 
completely  destroyed  Lee's  whole  army.  Then  came  a 
fresh  account  of  the  capture  of  Richmond.  This  time  it 
was  done  by  Sigel,  "who  had  burned  the  whole  city,  and 
planted  the  stars  and  stripes  over  the  ruins.  In  the  mean 
time  we  had  positive  information  of  the  capture  of  Vicks- 
burg  and  Mobile.  In  fact,  it  required  but  a  moderate 
stock  of  credulity  to  supply  any  one  with  more  news  than 
the  most  enlerprising  editor  of  a  daily  paper  could  fur 
nish.  A  few  incredulous  souls,  not  being  able  to  appre 
ciate  the  situation,  conceived  the  foolish  idea  that  we  were 
all  somewhat  in  the  condition  of  St.  Patrick's  snake  ;  and 
they  carried  out  the  simile  by  asking,  day  after  day,  when 
the  mail  would  come  through,  and  receiving  daily  the  snake's 
satisfactory  assurance — '  to-morrow.'  But  if  it  had  not  been 
for  the  fact  that  our  supplies  were  alarmingly  short,  the 
most  of  us  would,  I  suppose,  have  preferred  to  have  re 
mained  isolated  from  the  outer  world  and  all  its  manifold 
rumors,  knowing  that  here  all  the  reliable  news  reached  us, 
even  in  advance  of  the  occurrences  themselves." 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Notwithstanding  this  isolated  condition  and  its  starva 
tion  prospects,  the  garrison  was  far  from  despondent.  On 
Christmas  the  drill  ground  south  of  Corinth  was  tho  scene 
of  several  races  between  some  of  the  fine  horses  owned  by 
officers.  On  New  Years'  night  a  grand  military  ball  was 
given  at  the  Tishomingo  Hotel.  The  hall  was  beautifully 
and  tastefully  decorated  with  evergreens  and  with  tho 
battle-stained  flags  of  all  the  regiments  that  belonged  to 
the  garrison.  Corinth,  Jackson,  Burnsville  and  Danville 
were  laid  under  contribution  to  furnish  ladies.  A  good 
band  was  in  attendance,  and  dancing  was  kept  up  till  tho 
"  wee  sma'  hours." 

On  the  31st  of  December,  Forrest's  great  raid  culminated 
in  the  battle  of  Parker's  Cross  Roads,  in  which  he  was  de 
feated  and  driven  toward  the  river.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  1st  of  January,  General  Dodge  was  notified  of  this, 
and  urged  to  try  to  intercept  him  at  Clifton.  Orders  were 
immediately. issued  to  the  1st  and  2d  Brigades,  and  two 
batteries  of  artillery  to  move.  On  the  2d  the  troops  started, 
and  at  night  encamped  near  Savannah.  At  midnight  a 
severe  rain  began,  compelling  the  troops  to  be  all  unwil 
ling  sentinels.  In  the  morning  General  Dodge  received 
word  that  Forrest  had  crossed.  The  troops  returned  to 
Corinth. 

About  the  15th  of  January  a  small  steamer  came  up  the 
river  to  Hamburg  with  supplies,  and  the  hungry  troops 
rejoiced  over  full  rations. 

About  the  23d  of  January,  1863,  another  large  steamer 
arrived  at  Hamburg  with  supplies  for  the  garrison  at 
Corinth.  It  was  the  steamer  J.  Raymond,  and  was  con 
voyed  by  the  little  gunboats  General  Pillow  and  Alfred 
Robb.  An  immense  wagon  train,  escorted  by  four  regi 
ments  of  infantry  and  a  battery  of  artillery,  was  dispatched 
to  bring  its  cargo,  but  this  not  being  sufficient,  another 
train  of  two  hundred  wagons,  escorted  by  the  27th  and 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  47 

81st  Ohio,  the  7th  and  52d  Illinois  infantry,  and  a  section 
of  Battery  I,  1st  Missouri  Light  Artillery,  all  under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Col.  Adams,  81st  Ohio,  was  sent  from 
Corinth  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  January.  This 
march  and  its  incidents  made  it  one  of  the  severest  hard 
ships  which  the  regiment  had  yet  endured.  At  three  or 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  pitiless  storm  of  rain  began 
to  fall.  The  ground  was  already  muddy,  and  this  rain 
only  served  to  make  the  mud  thinner  and  deeper.  With 
two  regiments  of  troops  and  two  hundred  wagons  to  pre 
cede  the  81st,  the  condition  of  that  clayey  road  can  be 
imagined  but  not  described.  Mercilessly  came  the  rain 
until  dark,  and  then  the  81st  was  still  two  miles  from 
Hamburg.  Here  the  road  runs  through  a  wide  swamp, 
which,  during  the  previous  summer,  had  been  spanned  by 
a  corduroy  road  for  the  use  of  the  army.  It  was  now 
covered  with  mud  of  various  depths,  and  the  menf 
drenched  with  the  rain,  and  unable  to  distinguish  the 
treacherous  pitfalls  from  the  solid  ground,  plunged 
straight  through  like  so  many  hogs.  Every  few  feet 
some  luckless  fellow  would  go  sprawling  hopelessly  down 
into  the  mud  covering  himself  all  over  with  the  Tennessee 
soil.  All  the  while  it  continued  raining,  and  there  were 
cheerless  forebodings  of  a  comfortless  night,  when  the 
soldiers  contemplated  their  wet  and  muddy  clothing,  the 
unbounded  mud  and  the  extreme  scarcity  of  rails  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hamburg.  Usually  the  soldier  cares  little  for 
wet  clothing  during  the  day  if  he  has  a  prospect  of  being 
able  to  enjoy  a  bright  fire  at  night.  That  night,  on 
arriving  at  Hamburg,  instead  of  bivouacking  on  shore, 
where  by  blazing  fires  the  discomforts  of  the  day's  march 
would  soon  have  been  forgotton,  the  81st  was  ordered 
aboard  a  barge.  Any  one  who  has  traveled  with  troops 
on  our  steamers  can  imagine  how  much  of  comfort  there 
was  in  that  condition.  Think  of  a  tired  soldier  having 


48  HISTORY  OF  THE 

walked  twenty  miles  through  mud  and  rain,  until  his 
clothing  is  entirely  saturated  with  water,  and  then,  with 
his  chilling  garments  clinging  closely  to  his  shivering, 
hungering  body,  he  is  deposited  like  so  much  freight,  in 
the  damp  hold  of  a  filthy  barge,  where  not  so  much  as 
the  smell  of  fire  could  reach  him,  and  where  there  was  no 
possible  opportunity  to  obtain  a  cup  of  the  soldier's  sine 
qua  non-hot  coffee.  This  was  the  hard  lot  of  the  81st 
Ohio  that  night.  A  few  bales  of  hay  were  issued  to  the 
soldiers  which  they  scattered  over  the  damp  floor  for 
beds.  On  it,  wet,  muddy  and  cold,  they  threw  themselves 
down  supperless  to  sleep.  Here  and  there  some  luckless 
one  who  could  not  find  where  to  lay  his  head,  could  be 
heard  all  through  the  night  shivering  with  cold. 

When  morning  dawned,  it  was  discovered  by  the  regi 
ment  that  this  merciless  exposure  had  not  been  without 
an  object.  It  was  found  that  other  troops  had  also  em 
barked  on  the  Raymond,  and  that  a  departure  before 
morning  had  been  contemplated.  It  was  for  a  no  less 
pretentious  object  than  the  surprise  and  capture  of  the 
forces  under  Roddy,  who  was  encamped  near  Florence, 
Alabama,  with  about  4,000  rebel  cavalry.  The  two  little 
gunboats  were  to  accompany  for  the  purpose  of  silencing 
batteries  on  shore,  shelling  the  woods  and  covering  the 
landing  of  troops.  Then  "by  a  combined  attack  by  the 
land  and  naval  forces"  the  cavalry  were  to  be  taken  by 
storm  and  the  expedition  to  return  in  triumph.  It  was 
doubtless  a  brilliant  plan,  and  it  was  not  the  fault  of  the 
commander,  Col.  Rice,  that  it  failed.  Daylight  found  the 
J.  Raymond,  which  in  the  "piping  times  of  peace"  towed 
Dan  Rice's  great  show  from  city  to  city,  now  towing  an 
other  Rice's  menagerie  up  the  Tennessee.  The  gunboats 
advanced  bravely.  All  went  gloriously  until  at  a  distance 
of  three  miles  from  Hamburg,  the  J.  Raymond  sounded  a 
halt,  and  put  ashore  to  tie  up.  It  was  soon  discovered 


EIGHTY-FIRST   OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  49 

that  one  of  her  wheels  had  been  run  on  the  bottom  when 
starting,  until  its  axle  was  lifted  out  of  its  place,  bursting 
off  the  cap,  which,  with  the  brass  boxing  had  fallen  into 
the  river.  It  was  surmised  by  some  that  the  accident  was 
not  purely  accidental,  as  the  officers  of  the  boat  were 
averse  to  risking  their  lives  and  property  in  a  fight.  A 
council  of  war  was  held,  composed  of  representatives  from 
the  army  and  the  navy,  which  soon  decided  to  return  to 
Hamburg,  and  give  up  the  expedition.  The  return  was 
made  on  one  wheel  by  the  J.  Raymond,  and  the  troops 
disembarked.  After  waiting  an  hour  to  cook  the  first 
meal  since  leaving  Corinth,  the  81st  took  up  their  home 
ward  march,  and  notwithstanding  the  state  of  the  roads, 
they  reached  their  camp,  twenty  miles  in  seven  hours. 

The  month  of  March,  1863  was  spent  in  garrison  with 
out  particular  incident.  The  spring  brought  with  it  the 
old  desire  for  renovation — and  soldiers,  obedient  to  the 
law  which  has  governed  their  mothers  from  time  imme 
morial,  proceeded  to  clear  away  the  debris  which  had  ac 
cumulated  during  the  winter,  and  to  make  a  thorough 
remodeling  of  their  camps.  The  81st  Ohio  rescued  its 
camp  from  the  disorder  in  which  it  stood  all  winter,  and 
gave  it  the  charm  of  regularity.  When  all  was  set  in 
order  a  train  of  wagons  was  sent  to  the  pine  regions,  only 
a  few  miles  distant,  to  obtain  young  pines  with  which  to 
decorate  the  camp.  It  required  but  a  day  to  obtain  the 
trees  and  plant  them;  and  what  an  effect!  The  bare 
white  tents  were  relieved  by  the  grateful  green  of  the 
pines,  and  the  soldiers  were  in  ecstacies  on  beholding  the 
wonderful  change.  It  was  found  that  it  paid  even  for 
soldiers  to  give  some  attention  to  the  amenities  of  life. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  the  81st  celebrated  the  anniversary 

of  the  battle  of  Shiloh.     On  very  short  notice,  a  very  good 

substantial  supper  for  every  man  in  the   regiment  was 

spread  in  camp;   and  just  when  the  regiment  returned, 

4 


50  HISTORY   OF   THE 

wearied  and  hungry,  from  the  afternoon  review,  the  men 
were  called  to  the  tables  and  bountifully  supplied  with 
the  good  things  thereon.  It  was  intended  to  have  had 
a  dance  in  the  open  air  at  night,  but  it  was  found  impos 
sible  to  obtain  material  for  bonfires,  and  the  dance  had  to 
be  abandoned.  As  it  was,  however,  the  supper  put  the 
regiment  in  the  best  possible  humor,  and  all  retired  glad 
that  they  were  at  Shiloh  a  year  ago,  and  that  they  were 
here  now. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  51 

CHAPTER  V. 

EXPEDITION    TO    TUSCUMBIA. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  1863,  Gen.  Dodge  moved  from 
Corinth  with  almost  his  entire  force.  The  previous  day 
an  attack  had  been  made  upon  the  outpost  of  Glendale, 
and  this  seemed  to  the  rebels  as  the  occasion  of  General 
Dodge's  movement,  though  in  reality  quite  a  different  ob 
ject  was  in  view.  The  cavalry  chased  the  rebels  away 
from  Glendale,  and  the  infantry  moved  on  leisurely  after 
ward,  encamping  the  first  night  at  Burnsville.  The  next 
day  the  march  was  continued  a  few  miles  beyond  luka  to 
a  point  a  mile  or  two  from  Bear  Creek,  which  wtis  said  to 
be  defended  by  the  rebel  cavalry  under  Roddy.  On  the 
17th  Gen.  Dodge  moved  with  the  intention  of  crossing  the 
stream.  It  was  almost  too  deep  to  ford  and  there  was  no 
bridge ;  the  opposite  bank  was  favorable  for  defense, 
placing  a  section  of  artillery  in  position,  and  shelling  the 
ford  a  little  while,  General  Dodge  compelled  the  rebels, 
who  had  no  artillery,  to  flee,  and  our  cavalry,  finding  a 
shallow  place,  crossed  and  pursued.  The  infantry  was 
immediately  ordered  to  cross  also.  How  was  it  to  be 
done?  The  water  was  not  only  deep  but  swift.  To 
attempt  to  wade  would  be  but  to  be  carried  away  by  the 
current.  To  provide  against  this,  a  rope  was  stretched 
from  shore  to  shore  just  above  the  water,  which  served  to 
steady  the  steps  of  the  soldiers.  It  was  rare  sport  for 
most  of  them.  The  day  was  mild,  and  the  water  felt 
cool  and  refreshing.  Doffing  their  clothes  and  swinging 
them  with  knapsack,  haversack  and  cartridge  box  across 
their  guns,  which  they  carried  on  their  shoulders,  in  order 
to  keep  their  powder  dry,  the  soldiers,  with  songs  and 
cheers  and  exclamations  of  delight,  marched  single  file 


^Z  HISTORY  OF  THE 

across  the  angry  stream.  It  was  to  all  a  novel  way  of 
crossing  a  stream.  The  whole  division  went  into  bivouac 
on  crossing,  but  the  cavalry,  which,  under  the  impetuous 
Col.  Cornyn,  had  pressed  on  farther  than  was  expected, 
met  with  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  and  sent  back 
for  help.  Col.  Bane's  brigade  was  instantly  ordered  for 
ward,  and  came  very  near  entrapping  the  rebel  force. 

But  as  the  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  co-operate 
with  Col.  Straight's  command,  which  was  coming  from 
Nashville,  Gen.  Dodge  collected  his  troops  again  at  Bear 
Creek  and  waited  for  the  arrival  of  Col.  Straight.  This 
command  having  reached  Eastport  on  the  river,  disem 
barked  and  marched  to  Bear  Creek.  The  plan  was  for 
Gen.  Dodge  to  move  with  his  force  to  Tuscumbia,  Col. 
Straight  accompanying.  There,  while  Gen.  Dodge  manoeu- 
vered  to  distract  the  attention  of  the  rebels,  Col.  Straight 
was  to  move  rapidly  to  the  south  and  east,  and  do  the 
work  of  destruction  assigned  him  in  Georgia.  As  this 
movement  was  one  of  some  historical  interest,  and  as  it 
was  at  that  time  the  most  extended  march  and  campaign 
the  regiment  had  made.  I  propose  to  extract  freely  from 
accounts  written  at  the  time. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  April,  at  an  early  hour, 
the  whole  column  was  put  in  motion  on  the  road  toward 
Tuscumbia.  The  rain  had  put  the  roads  in  the  finest 
condition,  and  the  rested  troops  marched  gaily  along  in 
the  happiest  humor,  glad  to  see  so  much  beauty  as  the 
green  hills  on  either  side  of  the  road  afforded.  Beginning 
a  few  miles  east  of  Bear  Creek,  th-ere  is  a  large  upland 
valley,  remarkable  for  its  direction,  being  at  right  angles 
with  the  streams.  Along  this  valley  runs  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  railroad  and  the  wagon  road  to  Tuscumbia. 

On  either  side  of  the  road,  at  various  distances,  are  the 
finest  of  green -topped  hills,  with  just  enough  irregularity 
to  relieve  them  of  monotony.  They  bear  a  striking  re 
semblance  to  the  graceful  hills  along  the  Miami  and  Scioto 
rivers  iu  Ohio,  except  that  just  now  they  are  mottled  with 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  53 

the  dark  green  of  the  pines  which  are  scattered  among 
the  oaks  and  other  trees  of  lighter  colored  foliage. 

About  3  P.  M.  the  column  had  crossed  Cane  Creek  and 
gone  into  camp,  the  left  resting  almost  on  the  Tennessee 
river.  The  cavalry  was  carefully  secreted  along  the  base 
of  the  hills  on  the  right,  while  the  infantry  was  boldly 
placed  in  the  open  fields.  Scarcely  had  the  men  time  to 
prepare  supper  until  orders  came  to  fall  in  and  advance. 
On  the  right  of  the  railroad  Gen.  Sweeney  advanced  with 
a  regiment  or  two  and  some  artillery,  while  on  the  left, 
Ool.  Morton  advanced  his  brigade,  with  artillery  accom 
panying. 

The  Eighty -first  Ohio,  with  Company  C  and  a  platoon  of 
Company  I,  as  skirmishers,  was  in  advance  and  made  a 
splendid  appearance  as  its  long  lines  extended  across  the 
open  fields.  Very  soon  the  rebel  position  was  discovered, 
and  with  the  impression  that  they  were  supplied  with 
artillery,  Gen.  Sweeney  sent  in  a  few  shells,  but  without 
eliciting  any  reply.  Then  Col.  Morton  sent  from  his  guns 
a  few  of  the  same  kind  of  messengers  with  same  result. 
It  was  obvious  that  the  rebels  were  only  holding  the  place 
with  a  small  force,  yet  it  was  desirable  to  drive  them  away, 
lest  during  the  night  they  should  strengthen  the  position. 
The  whole  line  advanced.  It  looked  hazardous.  Our  forces 
were  in  open  ground,  descending  to  a  small  stream,  while 
on  the  opposite  side  was  "  Rock  Cut,"  a  narrow  gap  where 
the  railroad  passes  between  two  sentinel  hills,  and  where  a 
small  force  could  easily  have  wrought  great  damage  to  us. 
But  still  the  lines  advanced,  the  little  stream  was  crossed, 
the  opposite  heights  gained  and  the  gap  secured,  the  rebels 
incontinently  fleeing  before  us.  A  portion  of  General 
Sweeney's  troops  pushed  on  to  Little  Bear  Creek,  on  the 
opposite  bank  of  which  the  rebels  were  strongly  posted. 
The  Eighty-first  Ohio  bivouacked  at  the  eastern  end  of 
"Hock  Cut"  for  the  night.  Before  daylight  of  the  24th 
the  troops  of  Gen.  Sweeney,  including  the  81st  Ohio,  tem 
porarily  acting  under  his  orders,  were  silently  placed  in 
new  positions,  it  having  been  supposed  that  the  rebels 
were  about  to  attack  us  at  daylight.  But  in  this  we  were 
disappointed.  A  little  while  before  sunrise,  Company  C 
of  the  Eighty -first  Ohio  and  Company  B  of  the  Second 
Iowa,  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  ordered  forward 


54  HISTORY  OF  THE 

until  within  sight  of  Little  Bear  Creek.  Without  oppo 
sition  the  long  line  penetrated  the  thick  woods  in  its 
front  and  moved  on  unsupported,  a  mile  at  least,  when, 
coming  to  the  edge  of  a  narrow  field,  it  halted  in  full  sight 
of  the  disputed  stream.  The  rebels  on  the  opposite  shore 
immediately  took  to  horse  and  galloped  off.  A  few  men 
from  the  skirmish  line  went  down  to  the  creek  and  re 
ported  no  enemy  there,  but  as  the  crest  of  the  hill  above 
was  sufficient  for  the  masking  of  any  amount  of  hostile 
forces,  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  push  the  reconnoisance 
farther.  This  was  done,  and  the  rebels  were  found  flying. 
Gen.  Dodge,  with  a  small  cavalry  force,  immediately 
passed  over  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  in  a  few  minutes 
made  the  entry  into  Tuscumbia.  Immediately  the  whole 
column  was  in  motion,  and  so  prompt  was  the  movement 
that  the  rear  of  our  column  had  reached  the  heights  over 
looking  the  town  before  the  rebels  were  entirely  gone. 
Capts.  Spencer  and  Carpenter  of  Gen.  Dodge's  staff  pressed 
too  closely  on  the  rebel  rearguard  and  were  sharply  fired  on. 

Tuscumbia  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  State,  and 
is  remarkable  for  its  beauty  of  situation  and  its  wonderful 
springs.  Okocopasaw,  as  the  native  Indian  spoke  it  when 
he  meant  cold  water,  is  the  name  of  the  largest  spring, 
which  gushes  out  from  beneath  an  overhanging  rock,  at  a 
rate  of  four  miles  an  hour,  and  with  a  volume  sufficient 
to  form  a  stream  three  feet  deep  and  from  fifteen  to  thirty 
feet  wide.  A  rude  stone  wall  has  been  built  on  either  side 
of  the  basin,  just  below  where  the  water  comes  out,  and  a 
stone  stairway  leads  down  to  the  surface  of  the  water. 
"Aunt  Susey's  Spring"  is  another  smaller  one,  farther  to 
the  west.  Several  other  smaller  and  nameless  ones  are 
found  along  the  base  of  the  little  bank  on  which  Tuscum 
bia  is  situated.  The  stream  formed  by  these  springs  is 
sufficient  to  supply  motive  power  for  several  mills. 

The  town  itself,  in  its  buildings,  is  ordinary;  but  the 
shrubbery  and  flowers,  of  which  there  is  the  richest  pro 
fusion,  render  it  a  paradise  even  in  its  desolation.  War 
has  paralysed  its  business;  but  nature,  in  defiance  of 
armies,  has  made  Tuscumbia  charming.  Our  soldiers, 
who  have  for  a  year  seen  only  the  dull  desolation  of  Cor 
inth,  are  delighted  with  the  view  of  civilization  and  re 
finement  which  is  given  them  here." 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  55 

Col.  Cornyn  with  the  cavalry  pushed  on  after  the  flying 
rebels,  awd  overtaking  them  near  Leighton,  ten  miles  east 
of  Tuscumbia,  had  a  sharp  fight,  driving  them  in  three 
hours  a  distance  of  as  many  miles. 

Gen.  Dodge  remained  at  Tuscumbia  on  the  25th  and 
26th.  using  every  effort  to  complete  the  equipment  of 
Col.  Straight's  command  for  the  important  expedition  it 
was  about  to  undertake.  He  even  gave  up  one-third  of 
the  animals  belonging  to  his  own  command,  (except 
cavalry,)  and  yet  there  was  not  enough.  Col.  Straight 
was  obliged  to  spend  the  first  day  or  two  of  his  march  in 
pressing  animals  to  mount  the  remainder  of  his  men.  It 
is  perhaps  owing  to  this  that  his  expedition  was  not  more 
successful.  However,  at  midnight  of  the  26th  he  started, 
Gen.  Dodge  having  thoroughly  occupied  the  rebel  cavalry 
so  as  to  divert  attention  from  Col.  Straight's  movements. 
In  order  still  to  keep  the  enemy  deceived,  Gen.  Dodge 
moved  early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  with  his  whole 
force  eastwardly. 

Leaving  Tuscumbia,  the  country  becomes  more  like  an 
elevated  plateau,  flanked  on  each  side  with  a  low  and 
tolerably  regular  range  of  hills.  Large  plantations,  ele 
gantly  adorned  by  the  true  Southern  mansions,  and  dotted 
with  the  neat  little  villages  of  negro  quarters,  now  all 
vacant,  are  to  be  seen  all  along  the  road.  For  a  distance 
of  several  miles  no  stream  is  in  view,  but  numerous  ponds 
and  sink  holes  are  everywhere  to  be  found. 

Gen.  Sweeney,  with  his  brigade  in  the  advance,  found 
no  interruption  until  after  he  had  passed  the  little  village 
of  Leighton  several  miles,  and  reached  the  stream  known 
as  Town  Creek.  Here,  on  the  eastern  side  he  found  a 
force  of  cavalry  and  artillery.  Arriving  nearly  at  night, 
he  only  threw  a  few  shells  across,  and  then  the  troops 
went  into  camp  for  the  night. 

On  the  28th  of  April  occurred  what,  by  a  little  license 


50  HISTORY  OF  THE 

may  be  termed  the  battle  of  Town  Creek.  Quite  early 
in  the  morning  we  were  aroused  by  a  sharp  fine  of  mus 
ketry  between  our  pickets  and  those  of  the  enemy,  posted 
on  opposite  sides  of  the  stream.  Not  long  after  daylight 
our  troops  were  under  arms,  and  having  two  or  three 
batteries  in  position  we  commenced  a  deliberate  cannon 
ading  of  the  enemy's  position.  Eoddy  had  but  a  few 
guns,  and  they  being  of  an  inferior  range,  he  soon  dis 
covered  that  they  were  no  match  for  Capts.  Welker  and 
Kichardson,  and  ceased  firing.  Capt.  Tannrath,  with  his 
battery  devoted  his  attention  to  clearing  the  woods  of 
sharp  shooters  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  where  they  had 
been  of  considerable  annoyance.  His  accurately  thrown 
shells  soon  drove  them  to  the  high  ground  beyond  range. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  enemy  suddenly  opened  with 
artillery  on  one  of  our  batteries  near  a  brick  house,  with 
such  excellent  range  that  the  first  shot  struck  in  the 
building.  Anxious  for  an  opportunity  to  give  them  a 
taste  of  our  shell,  an  immediate  response  by  two  or  three 
of  our  batteries  was  made,  though  the  rebel  position  was 
so  well  chosen  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  dislodge 
them.  The  rebels  continued  to  throw  shell  and  solid  shot, 
the  latter  flying  far  to  the  roar  of  our  batteries,  while  the 
former  burst  long  before  they  reached  our  guns.  Com 
pany  B,  of  the  81st  Ohio,  being  deployed  as  skirmishers 
along  the  bank  to  guard  against  attempts  at  crossing,  was 
somewhat  annoyed  by  these  premature  explosions.  The 
only  casualty,  however,  was  a  pretty  severe  flesh  wound 
received  by  Private  Arthur  Hall,  who  was  struck  below 
tho  left  shoulder  by  a  piece  of  shell.  In  about  an  hour 
the  rebel  guns  ceased  and  ours  fired  but  very  slowly. 

Preparations  were  now  made  for  crossing  the  stream. 
It  was  a  deep,  narrow  stream,  with  precipitous  banks, 
and  swollen  by  the  ruin  of  the  previous  night,  it  was  en 
tirely  too  deep  and  swift  to  be  forded  by  either  cavalry  or 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  57 

artillery,  and  the  only  bridge  was  the  one  at  the  railroad. 
Placing  Captain  Tannrath's  battery  in  a  position  to  com 
mand  the  bridge,  General  Dodge,  who  had  been  on  the 
ground  all  the  morning,  ordered  Colonel  Morton  to  send 
a  regiment  from  his  brigade  across  the  bridge  to  cover  the 
crossing  of  such  forces  as  should  be  ordered  to  follow. 
The  Colonel  chose  to  send  the  81st  Ohio,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Adams  commanding,  ordered  Company  F  to  cross 
the  bridge  and  deploy  to  the  right  of  the  railroad.  The 
bridge  being  partially  hidden  by  trees,  this  movement  was 
promptly  executed  without  opposition,  and  a  few  minutes 
afterward  the  whole  regiment,  accompanied  by  General 
Dodge  on  foot,  crossed  the  bridge,  and  deploying  Company 
C  as  skirmishers  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  formed  close 
to  the  creek.  No  sooner  had  the  regiment  crossed  than 
the  Pioneer  corps  began  tearing  down  some  buildings  on 
the  west  side  of  the  stream,  and  using  the  lumber  in  floor 
ing  the  bridge  to  facilitate  the  crossing.  When  this  was 
done,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Phillips,  with  four  companies  of 
the  9th  Illinois,  crossed,  and  deploying  as  skirmishers 
formed  on  the  extreme  left.  Then,  taking  command  of  the 
whole  line  of  skirmishers,  he  began  an  advance.  Several 
rebels  had  been  seen  already  up  the  railroad,  and  a  squad  had 
been  fired  at  while  reconnoitering  our  line  on  the  left  of 
the  railroad.  So  soon  as  Colonel  Phillips  emerged  from  the 
woods  which  skirted  the  bank  of  the  creek,  he  saw  before 
him  a  vast  open  plantation  rising  gently  some  five  or  six 
hundred  yards  to  what  seemed  a  ridge. 

On  the  ridge  was  a  dwelling  house,  a  cotton  house  and 
a  little  village  of  negro  huts,  near  which  the  rebel  artil 
lery  had  been  posted  in  the  morning.  Seeing  no  hiding 
place  for  the  rebels  except  toward  the  left  where  there 
was  a  woods,  Col.  Phillips  determined  to  halt  the  skir 
mishers  on  the  right  of  the  railroad,  and  swing  around 
the  right  of  the  remaining  line  toward  the  supposed 
5 


58  HISTORY  OF  THE 

hiding  place.  In  doing  so,  the  right  soon  reached  the 
top  of  the  ridge  and  found  numerous  squads  of  rebels  on 
horseback,  hovering  around,  just  behind  the  crest  of  the 
ridge,  or  rather  the  summit  of  the  elevated  plateau,  some 
of  them  almost  directly  in  rear  of  the  right  of  our  line. 
As  soon  as  this  was  discovered,  Col.  Phillips  halted  the 
line,  and  sent  four  men  from  Company  C,  81st  Ohio,  from 
the  right  of  the  line  to  a  little  eminence  on  the  right  to 
wake  up  whoever  might  be  behind  it.  They  advanced 
steadily  to  the  fence,  and  looking  over  they  perceived 
several  horsemen  within  range.  They  fired,  and  one  of 
the  horsemen  was  dismounted.  The  others  moved  off, 
and  our  four  men  started  boldly  in  pursuit.  But  like  the 
bonnets  and  plaids  of  the  warriors  of  Rhoderic  Dhu,  the 
butternut  hats  and  coats  began  to  appear  from  every 
fence  corner,  and  from  behind  every  bush,  until  quite  a 
considerable  force  was  developed.  Still  the  four  men  kept 
on,  going  straight  toward  the  whole  lot,  until  they  were 
ordered  to  come  back,  which  they  did  with  great  re 
luctance. 

General  Dodge  had  remained  all  this  while  with  the  81st 
Ohio,  watching  the  movement,  and  superintending  the 
crossing  of  other  troops  on  the  right.  It  was  now  about 
4  P.  M.,  and  by  this  time  portions  of  General  Sweeney's 
and  Colonel  Bane's  brigades  had  effected  a  crossing  far 
ther  to  the  right.  The  General  determined  to  make  a 
thorough  reconnoisance  of  the  whole  space  in  front,  and, 
if  possible,  give  the  enemy  battle.  For  this  purpose  he 
ordered  out  a  grand  line  of  skirmishers.  Taking  the  rail 
road  for  the  center,  ho  deployed  to  the  right  and  left  one 
of  the  longest  lines  of  skirmishers  which  we  had  then 
seen.  Five  companies  (all  large)  of  the  81st  Ohio  were 
out :  F,  I  and  C  deployed,  and  D  and  K  following  close  in 
reserve.  A  like  number  from  at  least  three  other  regi 
ments  made  a  line  which  was  estimated  to  be  two  miles  in 


EIGHTY- FIRST   OHIO   INFANTRY  VOLS.  59 

length.  The  ground  was  almost  wholly  clear,  and  de 
scending,  with  but  slight  irregularities,  it  was  possible 
from  various  points  to  obtain  a  view  of  the  whole  line, 
with  its  dark  little  bodies  of  companies  in  reserve  follow 
ing  close  after  it  at  regular  intervals,  while  at  a  little  greater 
distance  to  the  rear  could  be  seen  the  main  reserves  moving 
in  splendid  order,  with  their  flashing  banners  unfurled, 
and  floating  majestically  in  the  brightening  rays  of  the 
declining  sun.  It  was  a  sight  to  move  one's  soul ;  and 
what  gave  it  additional  interest  was,  that  all  along  our 
whole  front,  at  a  distance  just  out  of  range  of  our  guns, 
the  rebel  horsemen  kept  slowly  moving  on,  no  doubt  en 
amored  of  the  splendid  spectacle  presented  to  their  view. 
Now  and  then  some  lingerer  would  find  himself  saluted 
by  the  music  of  our  balls,  and  would  hasten  forward,  out 
of  range.  Still,  steadily  the  grand  line,  with  its  primary 
and  secondary  reserves,  moved  on,  halting  occasionally  to 
correct  the  alignment  or  to  make  observations.  As  steadily, 
halting  when  we  did,  the  rebels  moved,  taking  care  to  not 
stop  within  range.  Once  on  the  left,  a  bold  rebel  remained 
secreted  within  a  little  skirt  of  woods  until  we  came  in 
good  range,  when  he  fired,  the  ball  touching  the  fingers  of 
Sergeant  Workman,  Company  I,  81st  Ohio,  inflicting  only 
a  slight  wound.  Quick  as  a  flash  a  dozen  of  our  Enfields 
answered  his  lone  shot,  and  he  was  not  bold  enough  to  try 
another. 

In  this  manner  we  proceeded  until  sunset,  when  the  line 
had  advanced  three  miles  from  the  creek,  and  both  flanks 
had  reached  a  dense  forest,  while  the  center  was  but  a 
short  distance  from  the  edge  of  the  clear  ground.  So  far 
we  had  moved  without  opposition ;  the  rebels  slowly  re 
tiring  before  us  without  evincing  any  desire  to  accept 
battle.  At  dusk  the  line  was  halted,  and  soon  after  was 
silently  withdrawn  to  the  opposite  side  of  Town  Creek. 
The  object  of  the  expedition  had  been  as  fully  accomplished 


60  HISTORY  OF  TIIE 

as  it  was  possible  to  do.  General  Dodge  had  kept  the  en 
emy  engaged  for  two  days  and  nights,  during  which  time 
it  was  hoped  Colonel  Straight  would  be  far  on  his  way. 
The  sequel  proved  that  that  officer  was  delayed  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  stock  to  mount  his  troops  until  the 
first  day  was  virtually  wasted.  The  next  day  about  noon 
his  movement  was  communicated  to  the  force  before  Gen 
eral  Dodge,  and  it  was  withdrawn  as  quickly  as  possible 
thereafter. 

General  Dodge  therefore  returned  to  Corinth  as  expedi- 
tiously  as  possible,  burning  all  corn  and  supplies  of  every 
kind  that  could  be  found. 

The  march  was  the  most  extended  the  regiment  had 
then  taken,  being  one  of  eighteen  days  duration,  yet  it 
was  the  best.  Excellent  discipline  rendered  it  at  once  the 
most  pleasant  and  the  most  orderly  movement  they  had 
yet  made,  and  although  the  rations  were  short  at  the  close 
of  the  campaign,  and  the  troops  weary  with  the  march, 
yet  on  the  2d  of  May  the  regiment  marched  into  camp 
with  banners  flying,  music  sounding,  and  step  as  regular 
as  if  returning  from  drill,  with  every  man  in  his  place. 

Immediately  upon  the  return  from  this  expedition,  the 
81st  Ohio  completed  their  very  comfortable  summer  quar 
ters  of  little  wooden  structures  covered  and  enclosed 
by  clap-boards  made  by  the  soldiers.  The  work 
was  scarcely  finished  until  orders  were  received  to 
change  camp  to  a  position  about  a  mile  south  of  Cor 
inth,  lately  occupied  by  the  Ohio  Brigade.  This  change 
was  less  unwelcome  to  the  81st,  from  the  fact  that  it  was 
assigned  to  the  excellent  quarters  constructed  by  the  27th 
Ohio.  This  position  had  also  the  additional  advantage  of 
being  in  a  beautiful  grove,  affording  a  most  welcome  shade 
in  the  hot  days.  Water  was  abundant  and  near  at  hand, 
an  excellent  drill  ground  was  contiguous  to  the  camp,  and 
there  was  nothing  wanting  to  complete  the  pleasantness 
of  the  situation. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  61 


CHAPTER  VI. 

POCAHONTAS   AND  PULASKI. 

But  the  soldier  never  can  be  sure  of  the  continuance  of 
any  "  good  thing  "  in  his  military  life.     The  change  in  the 
line  of  communication  from  that  by  way  of  Columbus, 
Kentucky,  to  the  direct  line  from  Memphis,  made  about 
this  time,  and  the  consequent  changing  of  garrison,  made 
it  necessary  for  General  Dodge  to  distribute  a  portion  of 
the  garrison  of  Corinth  along  the  road  toward  Memphis. 
The  Second  Brigade  was  ordered  to  Pocahontas,   about 
twenty  miles  from  Corinth.     On  the  3d  of  June,  the  81st 
Ohio  very  reluctantly  started  from  their  beautiful  encamp 
ment.     Not  leaving  Corinth  until  nearly  noon,  the  regi 
ment  had  not  gone  half  the  distance  until  a  terrific  storm 
of  wind  and  rain  came  upon  them,  completely  drenching 
every  man,  and  rendering  the  roads  almost  impassable. 
The  same  storm  blew  down  a  number  of  trees  in  the  en 
campment  which  the  regiment  had  just  left,  crushing  a 
number  of  the  houses  in  such  a  manner  that  if  the  regi 
ment  had  been  there  death  must  have  ensued.     As  it  was, 
although  no  one  was  killed,  yet  all  passed  a  most  disa 
greeable  night  in  bivouac — a  condition  not  at  all  amelior 
ated  by  the  remembrance  of  the  almost  princely  quarters 
they  had  occupied  the  previ'ous  night.     About  noon  on 
the  4th,  the  Second  Brigade  reached  Pocahontas.     It  was 
anything  but  a  pleasant  prospect.     An  old,  dilapidated 
village,  whose  very  slatternliness  was  sufficient  to  make 
one  melancholy,  answered  to  the  name  of  Pocahontas.     It 
had  one  redeeming  feature :  it  had  never  yet  been  occu 
pied  permanently  by  either  Federal  or  Confederate  forces, 
and  was  consequently  in  that  pure  state  of  nature  which 


62  HISTORY  OF  TUB 

is  so  desirable  for  an  encampment.  The  81st  Ohio  was 
assigned  to  a  tolerably  pleasant  position  in  the  edge  of  a 
woods  near  the  town,  and  this  time,  disdaining  to  build 
permanent  quarters  from  which  they  could  at  any  moment 
be  ousted  without  their  consent,  they  pitched  their  tents 
in  true  military  style.  One  or  two  of  the  companies,  how 
ever,  having  faith  in  the  permanency  of  their  location, 
erected  temporary  wooden  quarters.  Captain  Henry's 
company  (H)  was  ordered  to  Muddy  Creek,  about  two 
miles  west  of  Pocahontas,  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  the 
railroad  bridge  over  that  stream. 

By  degrees  the  position  at  Pocahontas  became  more  in 
viting.  The  bustle  occasioned  by  such  a  body  of  troops 
infused  some  life  into  the  dull  town.  The  country  in  the 
vicinity  was  productive,  and  the  troops  had  their  tables 
bountifully  supplied  with  all  the  fruits  and  vegetables 
which  the  market  afforded.  The  duty  was  chiefly  formal 
picket  duty — no  drills  being  had  on  account  of  the  hot 
weather.  In  this  easy  way  the  summer  was  passed,  with 
out  any  incidents  of  importance. 

It  was  in  July  of  this  year  that  General  Oglesby,  who 
had  been  made  Major-General  for  his  gallant  action  at  the 
battle  of  Corinth,  and  who,  for  some  time  had  been  in 
command  of  the  Left  Wing,  16th  Army  Corps,  was  com 
pelled  to  resign.  As  his  parting  order  makes  honorable 
mention  of  the  Second  Brigade,  and  of  the  81st  Ohio,  I 
am  sure  every  member  of  the  regiment  will  be  glad  to 
preserve,  in  this  form,  those  words  of  their  gallant  com 
mander.  It  will  be  observed  that,  with  characteristic 
modesty,  he  makes  no  allusion  to  the  fact  that  his  wound, 
received  at  Corinth,  was  the  sole  cause  of  the  physical  in 
firmity  which  compelled  him  to  resign. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INF AK TRY  VOLri.  63 

"  HEADQUARTERS  LEFT  WING  16TH  ARMY  CORPS.  ) 
MEMPHIS,  TENNESSEE,  July  G,  1863.     j 

'  General  Orders,  No.  21  : 

•*  Continued  pain,  resulting  from  physical  infirmity,  as 
sures  me  that  I  am  not  able  faithfully  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  the  high  position  given  me  by  the  President  of 
the  United  States. 

"  I  have  therefore  tendered  my  resignation  as  a  Major- 
General  of  United  States  Volunteers.  In  taking  leave  of 
a  command,  with  a  portion  of  which  I  have  been  so  long 
and  so  intimately  associated,  I  may  be  excused  for  indulg 
ing  in  the  expression  of  feelings  which  have  grown  into 
sentiments  of  the  most  ardent  attachment. 

"  It  will  be  remembered  by  them  also  that  I  have  never 
officially  reported  the  part  taken  by  the  Second  Brigade  of 
the  Second  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  in  the 
terrible  battle  fought  on  the  3d  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1862, 
lit  Corinth.  Now,  for  them,  let  me  do  something  like  jus 
tice  to  the  devoted  courage  of  the  9th,  12th  and  66th  Illi 
nois,  and  2*2d  and  81st  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  to  Mersey, 
Chetlain,  Burke,  Wood  and  Morton,  their  able  and  worthy 
commanders;  to  Colonel  Mersey,  as  the  command  of  the 
Brigade  fell  upon  him  when  I  left  the  field. 

It  must  be  recorded  of  those  soldiers,  that  no  men  ever 
fought  more  daringly,  when  in  the  final  charge  on  Friday 
afternoon.  They  actually  drove  three  times  their  num 
ber  of  stubborn  men  fairly  from  the  field,  and  from  the 
high  road  to  Corinth,  then  not  one-half  mile  distant. 

"I  shall  always  believe  that  nothing  but  the  desperate 
fighting  of  the  Second  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  on  the  main  Chewalla  Road,  saved  Corinth  from 
the  possession  of  the  enemy  on  Friday  afternoon,  for  which 
I  shall  never  cease  to  thank  you.  Fellow-soldiers,  I  part 
with  you  with  much  regret.  I  have  known  your  suffer 
ings,  and  with  pride  have  witnessed  your  devotion  to  our 
common  and  noble  cause.  You  have  endured  one  hard 
ship,  to  encounter  another ;  have  gone  from  one  field  of 
victory  to  another  of  blood,  and  have  at  all  times  felt  and 
so  acted  as  to  satisfy  good  men  that  you  had  honor  and  a 
country  at  stake,  and  have  hesitated  at  no  risk  to  save 
either.  Your  country  must  love  you.  Your  country  does 
love  you.  The  world  in  all  time  to  come  will  honor  you. 
Reverence  for  you  must  be  eternal.  The  obscure  soldier, 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE 

who  toils  through  this  war,  will  have  an  unwritten  but  an 
unforgotton  history,  an  ever  present  conscience  repaying 
him  with  its  rich  rewards. 

"  Faithful  soldier,  thou  hast  served  thy  country  well. 
I  shall  never  forget  you,  nor  shall  I  abate  my  efforts  to 
sustain  you  at  home.  That  man  in  the  loyal  States,  who 
is  not  thought  and  soul  for  you,  for  the  Union,  and  for  the 
war,  is  no  friend  of  mine,  is  no  true  friend  of  humanity 
anywhere.  I  reflect  with  just  pride  upon  the  names  of 
those  gallant  officers  who  have  led  you  to  battle,  some 
times  under  my  command.  How  much  the  country  owes 
them  ;  how  much  they  are  to  be  honored  ;  the  discreet  and 
indefatigable  Dodge,  Sweeney,  Mersey,  Bane,  Rice,  Mizner, 
M'Crillis,  Hatch,  Coruyn  and  Phillips.  Amongst  those  of 
former  days,  I  well  remember  Logan,  M* Arthur,  Ransom, 
Lawler,  the  lamented  Wallace,  and  others  equally  worthy. 
With  such  men  to  lead  and  inspire  you  we  cannot  fail. 
The  proud  army  of  the  Great  West,  with  scarcely  a  reverse, 
presents  to  the  nation  a  boquet  of  victory,  the  gratitude 
and  admiration  of  the  whole  people. 

"  You  may  well  say  :  This  war  can  not  last  much  longer. 
You,  "\vho  have  witnessed  traitors  with  haughty  pretension 
crouch  at  your  feet  for  mercy  ;  the  mansions  of  the  dom 
ineering  rich  turned  into  boarding  houses,  and  the  chiv 
alry  turned  landlord  and  lady,  for  the  entertainment  of 
Yankee  officers.  Those  who  have  spurned,  beg  for  favors 
at  your  hands  ;  and  swearing  a  new  allegiance  for  protec 
tion  to  property,  meanly  violate  it  to  serve  a  rebel.  It  is 
fit  and  proper  that  such  a  people,  who  foolishly  wage  such 
a  war,  should  at  last  meet  face  to  face  the  black  race  of 
the  South,  bend  to  the  rod  of  the  slaves  they  have  so  long 
outraged,  and  tremble  before  the  men  proclaimed  by  them 
to  have  no  rights.  A  just  retribution,  one  they  can  not 
avoid  ;  the  humiliation  their  own  bold  treason  has  brought 
upon  them  ;  a  resort  that  needs  no  justification  in  the 
sight  of  God  or  man,  for  it  is  right. 

[Signed]  R.  J.  OGLESBY, 

Major-General." 

So  highly  was  General  Oglesby  esteemed,  that  instead 
of  accepting  his  resignation,  he  was  granted  six  months' 
leave  of  absence. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  65 

During  the  stay  of  the  regiment  at  Pocahontas,  the  most 
of  the  watching  for  the  enemy,  and  almost  all  the  marches 
against  him,  were  made  by  the  mounted  forse — the  9th 
Illinois,  under  command  of  the  dashing  and  gallant  Lieut. 
Col.  Phillips.  It  is  true  that  in  September,  when  Forrest 
made  serious  attacks  upon  the  railroad  at  Collierville, 
where  a  part  of  the  division,  to  which  the  81st  belonged, 
had  quite  a  severe  fight,  a  part  of  the  regiment  was  moved 
up  to  Grand  Junction,  but  it  was  but  a  temporary  absence. 

In  October  a  good  position  was  selected,  and  in  prospect 
of  spending  the  winter  there,  the  troops  went  to  work  with 
a  will  to  construct  winter  quarters.  The  finest  splitting 
tinrber  was  selected,  and  great  care  was  exercised  in  mak 
ing  the  boards.  Each  company  had  its  ground  accurately 
staked  off — the  streets  between  the  companies  were  of 
uniform  width,  and  the  quarters  were  ordered  to  be  built 
with  the  same  regard  for  regularity.  Busy  hands  plied 
earnestly  day  after  day,  until  the  camp  was  completed, 
and  the  regiment  was  in  ecstacies  over  the  beautiful  and 
comfortable  quarters  erected.  Yisions  of  cheerful  winter 
evenings  before  their  bright,  old-fashioned  fires,  and 
thoughts  of  comfort  upon  returning  from  some  cheerless 
tour  of  picket  or  fatigue  duty,  filled  their  imaginations,  and 
they  felt  as  if  they  hardly  needed  the  sympathy  so  often  ten 
dered  by  friends  at  home  for  the  poor  soldier.  But,  alas ! 

"  The  best  laid  plans  o'  mice  and  men, 

Gang  aft  aglee, 
And  bring  us  nought  but  grief  an'  pain 

For  promised  joy." 

A  fatality  seemed  to  attend  the  efforts  of  the  81st  in  the 
matter  of  providing  comfortable  quarters.  They  had  left 
a  fine  camp  at  Corinth,  after  enjoying  it  but  about  three 
weeks,  and  now  Camp  Brough — a  name  given  to  this  en 
campment  in  honor  of  the  election  of  Gov.  Brough,  the 
news  of  which  reached  them  about  the  time  the  work  was 
done — even  Camp  Brough  had  to  be  evacuated.  General 


66  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Sherman  was  passing  that  way  on  his  famous  march  from 
Memphis,  and,  as  if  catching  the  infection  of  his  wonderful 
energy,  all  the  troops  of  the  Left  Wing,  16th  Army  Corps, 
now  commanded  by  General  Dodge,  prepared  to  move  in 
the  same  direction.  The  81st  Ohio  left  Pocahontas  about 
the  last  of  October,  expecting  to  accompany'  Sherman  and 
join  the  army  about  Chattanooga. 

Passing  through  Corinth,  luka  and  Eastport,  the  81st 
crossed  the  Tennessee  at  the  latter  point  and  moved  on 
through  Tennessee.  The  ro'ads  were  generally  in  excel 
lent  condition,  the  weather  mild  and  favorable,  great  care 
was  taken  in  regulating  the  distance  marched  each  day, 
and  in  selecting  places  of  encampment,  and  the  result 'was 
that  the  march  was  but  a  pleasure  trip.  No  lagging  be 
hind,  no  straggling,  but  a  continuous  care  for  the  comfort, 
on  the' part  of  officers,  and  a  respect  for  orders  on  the  part 
of  the  men.  At  one  time,  after  crossing  the  Tennessee,  a 
portion  of  the  wagon  train  was  attacked  by  a  small  party 
of  guerrillas,  and  two  wagons  captured  and  burnt,  the 
mules  being  taken  away.  The  party  was  immediately 
driven  oif,  and  no  more  interruptions  occurred.  The 
troops  found  an  abundance  of  sweet  potatoes,  chickens, 
turkeys,  hogs  and  cattle  with  which  to  eke  out  very  pal 
atably  the  scanty  rations  with  which  they  left  the  river. 
The  principle  of  subsisting  on  the  enemy  had  already  been 
sufficiently  approved  and  applied  by  this  command  to  ena 
ble  the  soldiers  to  unearth  potatoes  or  catch  a  chicken 
with  very  little  compunction  of  conscience.  However, 
this  matter  was  generally  done  in  a  lawful  manner.  For 
aging  details  were  made,  to  obtain  whatever  was  necessary 
for  the  command. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  General  Dodge's  command 
reached  Pulaski,  the  county  seat  of  Giles  county,  Tenn. 
Here,  very  unexpectedly  to  himself  and  to  his  troops,  he 
received  orders  to  halt,  and  to  garrison  and  rebuild  the 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  67 

Tennessee  and  Alabama  Kailroad,  running  from  Nashville 
to  Decatur.  This  was,  in  effect,  an  order  to  go  into  winter 
quarters,  but  as  it  was  not  immediately  communicated  to 
the  troops,  and  remembering  their  former  experience,  the 
81st  Ohio  boys  were  slow  to  attempt  building  huts.  Upon 
leaving  Pocahontas  all  tents,  except  three  or  four  had  been 
stored  at  Corinth,  and  the  troops  were  thus  left  shelterless 
in  the  beginning  of  winter.  To  add  to  this  discomfort  of 
the  situation,  the  place  selected  for  the  camp  of  the  81st 
was  on  a  rather  steep  hill-side,  in  an  open  field,  on  a  soil 
which,  during  a  rain,  formed  first-class  mud.  On  that 
bleak  hill-side  the  troops  tried  in  vain  to  find  comfort,  by 
building  little  rail  pens  and  covering  them  with  their 
water-proof  blankets.  It  is  not  wonderful  that  the  loose 
plank  lying  about  Pulaski  found  its  way,  during  the  nights, 
to  these  miserable  excuses  for  tents ;  nor  is  it  at  all  won 
derful  that  this  tendency  toward  camp,  exhibited  by  loose 
plank,  ended  there.  It  was  currently  reported,  in  the  lan 
guage  of  one  of  the  soldiers,  who  had  witnessed  the  phe 
nomenon,  "  that  if  a  soldier  only  leaned  against  a  board 
fence  in  the  night,  the  nails  would  drop  out,  and  the  boards 
would  stick  to  his  clothes  until  he  reached  camp  !" 

Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  in  a  short  time  there 
was  such  a  collection  of  odds  and  ends  of  boards  in  camp, 
that  a  moderate  degree  of  comfort  was  obtained,  although 
the  structures  put  up  were  of  all  conceivable  shapes  and 
sizes.  Messengers  were  dispatched  to  Corinth  to  bring  on 
the  tents,  but  having  to  come  by  water  to  Nashville,  they 
were  a  long  time  delayed.  When  they  arrived,  the  tents 
were  used  as  roofing  to  comfortable  and  moderately  uni 
form  houses. 

Company  A  was  soon  detached  and  sent  to  Wales,  a 
station  on  the  railroad,  about  four  miles  from  Pulaski, 
where  it  remained  all  winter.  Companies  B,  E,  F,  G  and 
K,  under  command  of  Major  Evans,  were  sent  to  Sam's 


68  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Mills,  about  six  miles  north-east  of  Pulaski.  In  a  short 
time  Major  Evans,  with  companies  B,  E  and  F,  was  ordered 
to  Nance's  Mills,  near  Cornersville,  leaving  Captain  Over- 
myer  in  command  of  the  two  companies  at  Sam's  Mills. 
Headquarters  of  the  regiment  remained  at  Pulaski,  with 
the  four  companies  left  there. 

The  object  of  holding  these  mills  was  to  enable  the  com 
mand  to  eat  up  the  garnered  grain  of  that  hitherto  well- 
filled  depot  of  supplies  for  the  rebels.  It  was  well  known 
that  the  large  surplus  quantities  of  wheat  and  corn,  if  not 
used  by  our  forces,  would,  in  someway,  either  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  rebels,  or  form  a  very  tempting  bait  to  a  starved 
command  to  make  a  raid.  So  the  very  fine  steam  mills 
above  mentioned  were  appropriated  to  Union  millers  in 
blue,  and  were  used  to  their  utmost  capacity  in  grinding 
flour  to  supply  the  troops  of  General  Dodge's  command. 
The  citizens  were  encouraged  to  bring  in  their  wheat  to 
the  mills,  and  voluntarily  turn  it  over  to  the  military  au 
thorities,  in  which  case  they  received  for  it  a  fair  market 
price  in  vouchers  that  were  paid  immediately.  But  if  they 
refused  to  bring  forward  their  produce,  then  it  was  seized 
by  the  troops,  and  vouchers  given  which  could  only  be 
paid  upon  proof  of  loyalty. 

The  plan  worked  admirably.  The  farmers  gladly  availed 
themselves  of  so  good  a  market,  and  the  mills  were  kept 
running  day  and  night.  Under  the  superintendence  of 
Captain  W.  H.  Hill,  81st  Ohio,  who  was  detailed  as  Super 
intendent  of  all  the  mills,  the  garrison  at  Pulaski  was  kept 
constantly  supplied  with  flour  and  meal,  so  that,  except 
for  the  mounted  command,  no  hard  bread  at  all  was  issued 
to  the  troops.  The  same  regulations  were  made  in  refer 
ence  to  hogs  and  cattle,  and  of  these,  too,  the  troops  had 
an  abundance. 


EIGHTY -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  69 


CHAPTER  VII. 

AT    PULASKI. 

Major  Evans  had  a  few  of  his  men  mounted,  and  spent 
a  good  portion  of  time  in  scouring  the  country  in  pursuit 
of  a  gang  of  guerrillas  that  infested  that  vicinity.  On 
one  of  these  occasions,  one  of  his  party,  little  Johnny 
Nott,  as  he  wae  called,  a  member  of  Company  E,  81st  Ohio, 
performed  a  gallant  action,  which  deserves  to  be  remem 
bered  . 

Young  K"ott,  being  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  rest,  ob 
served  a  Confederate  Captain  on  horseback  a  short  distance 
before  him.  Immediately  Johnny  put  spurs  to  his  horse, 
and  started  toward  the  Captain,  who  esteeming  discretion 
to  be  the  better  part  of  valor,  attempted  to  escape  by  flight. 
Fortunately  Nott's  horse  was  a  very  fine  one,  while  the 
Confederate  charger  was  not  good  in  a  retreat.  Each  mo 
ment  carried  the  two  desperate  riders  farther  away  from 
the  Major's  force,  while  it  also  lessened  the  distance  be 
tween  themselves.  Faster  and  faster  flew  the  Federal  sol 
dier  ;  nearer  and  nearer  he  approached  the  flying  "  chiv 
alry."  When  the  rebel  was  within  hailing  distance, 
Johnny,  to  his  horror,  discovered  him  attempting  to  draw 
a  revolver  from  a  scabbard  at  his  back.  Young  Nott 
called  to  him  to  halt,  but  still  he  kept  on,  busy  in  trying 
to  extricate  his  revolver.  Knowing  that  time  was  every 
thing  in  this  condition  of  affairs,  Johnny  boldly  dashed 
alongside  the  rebel,  and  pointing  a  revolver  at  his  face,  a 
second  time  ordered  him  to  halt.  The  Captain  halted. 
Being  unable  still  to  draw  his  stubborn  revolver,  he  had 
no  choice  but  to  surrender  to  this  mere  boy,  and  Johnny 
brought  him  back  in  triumph  to  the  remainder  of  the 


70  HISTORY  OF  THE 

party,  who  were  thus  first  informed  of  the  adventure. 
The  officer  was  Captain  Lewis,  of  the  53d  Tennessee,  and 
was  just  going  back  to  his  regiment,  after  enjoying  a  short 
furlough  at  home  in  that  vicinity. 

In  acknowledgement  of  his  gallantry  in  this  affair,  little 
Johnny  Nott  was  permitted  to  retain  the  revolver  which 
he  captured. 

The  winter  was  passed  by  the  regiment  in  much  the 
same  routine.  The  portion  stationed  at  the  mills  worked 
at  preparing  and  hauling  saw  logs,  and  at  confiscating  such 
forage  as  they  needed  in  addition  to  what  the  citizens  vol 
untarily  brought  in  and  turned  over.  Those  stationed  at 
Pulaski.  had  regular  and  frequent  duty  at  picket,  forage 
and  fatigue  duty.  As  a  picture  of  the  usual  experience  at 
that  time,  I  extract  from  a  letter  written  January  9,  1864  : 

"  The  old  year  died  in  a  storm  of  wind  and  snow  and 
hail.  Hoary  winter,  with  his  beard  of  icicles,  and  his 
breath  of  frost,  triumphantly  ushered  in  the  new  year,  and 
placed  him  on  his  icy  throne.  Every  wind  and  zephyr 
caught  the  spirit  of  the  new  dynasty,  and  straightway, 
like  couriers,  they  sped  over  the  land,  carrying  with  them 
the  chill  that  encircled  the  throne.  High  carnival  for 
Winter!  A  new  year  inaugurated  under  his  auspices. 
Right  vigorously  does  he  use  his  power.  Perhaps,  as 
around  our  northern  homes  the  wintry  blasts  howl,  and 
the  snow  flies  in  eddying  whirls,  and  the  air  becomes  like 
a  knife,  while  within-doors  the  grates  glow  with  warmth- 
giving  coals,  and  the  cabin  hearths  are  ablaze  with  the 
roaring,  crackling  winter  fires — perhaps  in  our  homes  there 
are  hearts  that  shudder  as  they  think  of  some  loved  one 
in  their  circle,  now  absent  in  the  army,  and  wonder  if  he 
is  not  cold  and  shivering  on  a  cheerless  picket  post.  *  Oh, 
where  is  my  boy  to-night?'  is  the  anxious  inquiry  of  many 
a  mother's  heart,  as  she  looks  out  on  the  wintry  scene. 

"  Alas  !  that  I  can  not  say  that  the  soldiers  do  not  suffer  ! 
Winter  brings  no  cessation  of  duty.  As  many  men  stand 
as  sentinels  around  this  command  when  the  thermometer 
falls  below  zero  as  when  the  sun  sends  down  his  kindliest 
rays.  The  Quartermasters  send  as  many  wagons  over  the 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  71 

frozen  ground  for  forage  and  supplies  as  they  sent  when 
the  ground  was  smooth.  The  teamsters  and  train  guards 
are  not  lessened  in  number.  Yet,  after  all,  there  is  more 
solicitude  for  our  comfort  in  the  homes  we  have  left,  than 
we  feel  here.  Each  soldier  makes  it  his  special  duty  to 
provide  for  his  own  comfort,  and  the  result  is  that  he  suffers 
comparatively  little,  and  complains  less  than  if  he  depended 
upon  others.  If  on  picket,  he  passes  his  two  hours  of  duty 
as  best  he  may,  knowing  that  at  the  end  of  his  '  trick '  he 
has  four  hours  at  his  own  disposal,  in  which  time  he  can 
provide  a  fire.  He  does  not  sit  down  helplessly,  and  whine 
because  the  Government  does  not  provide  him  a  warm 
shelter — he  builds  one  for  himself,  and  if  on  returning  to 
the  same  post  to  duty,  he  finds  his  shelter  burned,  he  sheds 
no  childish  tears  over  his  misfortune,  but  with  a  patience 
and  cheerfulness  that  would  do  honor  to  the  traditional 
spider,  with  a  broken  web,  he  builds  again  and  again  for 
the  hundredth  time. 

"  The  citizens  of  this  vicinity  say  that  not  since  1837, 
has  there  been  such  cold  weather  as  that  of  the  past  week. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  the  number  of  men  exposed,  there 
has  been  no  case  of  severe  freezing  among  them  all.  Here 
and  there  an  ear  or  a  finger  has  been  '  frosted,'  but  there 
have  been  no  serious  cases." 

During  the  months  of  December  and  January,  the  regi 
ment  was  intensely  excited  on  the  subject  of  re-enlisting, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  order  from  the  War  Depart 
ment  for  the  organization  of  a  veteran  force.  By  this  or 
der  troops  who  had  less  than  a  year  to  serve  under  their 
existing  enlistment,  and  who  had  served  at  least  two  years, 
could,  by  re-enlisting  for  three  years  or  during  the  war, 
unless  sooner  discharged,  obtain  a  discharge  from  their 
present  enlistment,  get  the  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars 
which  was  to  be  paid  at  the  end  of  their  three  years'  ser 
vice,  have  a  furlough  of  thirty  days  immediately  upon  re- 
enlisting,  and  get  a  veteran  bounty  in  instalments  amount 
ing  in  all  to  $402. 

Five  companies  of  the  regiment,  B,  C,  D,  E  and  F  came 
clearly  under  the  provisions  of  the  order,  but  the  remain- 


72  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ingfivehad  only  been  in  service  since  October,  1862,  and  had 
consequently,  not  fulfilled  one  of  the  requirements — that  of 
having  already  served  two  years.  But  they  claimed  that 
they  had  less  than  a  year  to  serve,  as  they  insisted  that 
they  had  been  enlisted  for  the  unexpired  term  of  the  reg 
iment,  which  would  make  their  term  of  service  expire  in 
the  autumn  of  1864.  Unfortunately  their  muster-in  rolls 
were  all  made  in  the  usual  form,  declaring  that  "  the  men 
and  officers  above  named  were  accepted  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  for  the  term  of  three  years,  unless  sooner 
discharged,  from  this  date."  And,  although  the  mustering 
officer,  in  explanation  at  the  time  of  the  muster-in,  stated 
distinctly  that  these  were  only  necessary  formal  words, 
and  he  would  muster  them  In  for  three  years,  with  the  un 
derstanding  that  one  year  had  already  expired,  yet  on  ap 
plication  to  the  War  Department  in  the  matter,  Secretary 
Stanton  peremptorily  decided  that  the  muster-in  rolls 
should,  in  all  cases,  determine  the  date  of  muster-out. 
Pending  this  application,  an  effort  was  made  among  the 
men  of  these  companies  to  ascertain  how  many  of  them 
would  re-enlist  as  veterans,  in  case  they  would  be 
allowed  to  do  so,  and  fully  three-fourths  of  them  were 
found  willing  to  re-enlist.  Of  course,  the  decision  above 
referred  to  deprived  them  of  the  privilege,  and  restricted 
the  enlistment  of  veterans  to  the  five  old  companies. 

There  wore  many  reasons  why  it  was  not  extremely 
popular  in  the  regiment  to  re-enlist.  It  required  the  re- 
enlistment  of  at  least  three -fourths  of  the  number  of  men 
present  in  a  company  or  regiment  to  enable  it  to  go  home 
as  an  organization,  and  retain  the  same  organization. 
The  cutting  off  of  the  five  new  companies  made  it  impos 
sible  for  the  regiment  to  go  home  together,  and  hence  ef 
fort  had  to  be  left  to  the  companies.  Here  various  reasons 
operated  to  deter  the  men.  Fears  of  being  transferred  to 
some  strange  company,  or  regiment,  deterred  some ;  the 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  73 

thought  that  if  they  re-enlisted  they  would  only  make  the 
draft,  which  was  then  impending,  more  easy  on  some  cow 
ardly  copperhead,  who  needed  a  schooling  in  the  ranks, 
had  its  influence  on  many.  Others  received  letters  from 
home  begging  them  not  to  re-enter  the  service — saying 
that  three  years  of  faithful  service  was  enough  for  those 
who  went  at  the  first  call,  without  hope  of  reward,  espe 
cially  when  the  North  was  full  of  able-bodied  men  who 
had  never  been  in  the  service  at  all. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  disadvantages,  I  am  proud  to 
be  able  to  say  that  in  this  regiment,  at  least,  patriotism  tri 
umphed  over  self-interest,  and  such  reasons  as  these  influ 
enced  those  who  could  not  have  been  induced  by  the  reward 
in  a  furlough  and  the  bounty.  Said  one — •'  I  will  re-enlist  be 
cause  I  kuow  the  Government  needs  more  troops,  and  that  I 
am  worth  more  as  a  soldier  than  a  new  man  would  be ;  I 
know,  too,  that  the  effect  of  a  general  re-enlistment  upon  the 
rebels  will  be  equal  to  a  victory  for  us,  while  it  will  insure  a 
strong  army  for  the  coming  campaign."  So  these  men, 
whom  we  cannot  praise  too  highly,  voluntarily  gave  three 
years  more  of  their  services  to  their  country.  All  did  not 
re-enlist.  There  were  many  quite  as  brave  and  patriotic 
who  could  not  feel  it  to  be  their  duty  to  be  longer  from 
their  families,  but  the  majority  of  the  young  men  re-en 
listed.  Company  C  bore  the  palm,  furnishing  twenty- 
seven  veterans.  Company  B  was  next,  having  twenty- 
two,  then  E  with  eighteen,  F  with  twelve,  and  little  Com 
pany  D  gave  eleven.  There  were  not  enough  from  any 
company  to  allow  any  officer  to  accompany  them  home, 
so  they  were  sent  home  in  two  squads :  one  under  Ser 
geant  Mader,  of  Company  C,  and  the  other  under  Sergeant 
Mason,  of  Company  B.  The  veterans  enjoyed  their  thirty 
days'  furlough  to  the  fullest  extent,  lavishing  their  money 
with  princely  hands,  and  returning  promptly  to  their  posts 
of  duty. 

6 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Early  in  March  Gen.  Dodge  extended  his  command  from 
Athens  to  Decatur,  Alabama,  by  capturing  the  latter  place 
early  one  morning  by  surprise.  The  rebel  force  retreated 
hastily.  This  extention  of  territory  required  some  change 
in  the  position  of  the  troops,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
81st  Ohio,  excepting  the  three  companies  at  Nance's  Mills, 
were  ordered  to  Lynnville,  which  place  had  previously 
been  garrisoned  by  Col.  Bane's  brigade.  Here  again  the 
troops  built  comfortable  quarters  in  quite  neat  style,  be 
sides  preparing  a  quite  formidable  stockade. 

About  the  last  of  January  as  a  couple  of  wagons  were 
going  out  from  Capt.  Overmyer's  command  at  Sam's 
Mills,  for  forage,  as  they  were  accustomed  to  do,  they 
were  attacked  at  a  brick  church  on  the  Shelb3rville  Pike, 
about  two  miles  from  the  mill,  by  a  squad  of  thirty  Con 
federate  cavalry,  and  as  there  were  but  nine  men  with  the 
wagons,  and  they  totally  unprepared  for  so  sudden  an 
attack,  they  were  captured.  The  rebels  burned  the  two 
wagons  and  hurried  off  with  the  mules,  arms  and  equip 
ments.  Private  Mills  of  Company  G  was  wounded  and 
left.  Five  men  of  Company  G  and  three  of  Company  K 
were  captured.  As  soon  as  possible  Major  Evans  started 
in  pursuit  with  a  mounted  force  and  very  nearly  succeeded 
in  overtaking  the  scoundrels.  They  paroled  ,  their  pris 
oners  that  night  and  sent  them  back,  first  relieving  them 
of  their  watches.  The  rebels  knew,  very  well  that  these 
paroles  were  not  recognized  by  us,  and  the  fact  that  they 
gave  them  was  but  evidence  of  their  great  fear  for  their 
own  safety,  which  led  them  to  disencumber  themselves 
so  readily.  The  capture  of  these  two  wagons,  however, 
seemed  to  save  a  larger  train  of  commissary  wagons  from 
Pulaski,  which  the  rebels  were  anxious  to  get,  but  which 
they  could  not  afford  to  wait  for  after  the  noise  of  this 
affair. 

About  the  first  of  April,  Captain  Gibson,  who  had  for 


EIGIITY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  75 

some  time  been  engaged  as  superintendent  of  the  mills, 
in  place  of  Capt.  Hill,  who  had  gone  North,  had  the  mis 
fortune  to  become  a  prisoner  of  war.  He  had  come  to 
Lynnville  on  a  visit,  in  company  with  Major  Alman,  a 
citizen,  living  at  Nance's  Mills,  and  as  they  were  return 
ing  in  the  evening,  three  men  suddenly  sprang  upon  them 
and  took  them  prisoners.  They  immediately  released 
Major  Alman,  who  went  on  to  the  mills  and  gave  the 
alarm.  He  had  recognized  one  of  the  men  as  the  son  of 
a  neighbor.  Captain  Gibson  was  taken  a  few  miles,  re 
lieved  of  his  horse,  revolver,  watch  and  three  hundred 
dollars  in  money.  Major  Evans  started  in  pursuit  and 
succeeded  in  recapturing  the  horse  and  in  establishing 
the  fact  that  the  father  of  one  of  the  robbers  lived  in 
the  neighborhood.  He  was  wealthy  and  was  compelled 
to  make  good  Captain  Gibson's  loss. 

Early  in  April,  the  Division  commander  had  telegraphed 
to  Col.  Adams  to  hold  his  command  in  readiness  to  move 
at  a  moment's  notice,  but  as  no  subsequent  order  was  re 
ceived  for  a  few  days,  it  was  thought  to  be  one  of  the 
many  orders  of  the  kind  given  for  the  sake  of  precaution. 
The  troops  were  settling  down  into  the  belief  that  they 
would  be  consigned  for  another  summer  to  the  easy  but 
inglorious  duty  of  guarding  the  railroad.  But  it  was  not 
to  be  so.  On  the  18th  of  April,  orders  came  from  Division 
Headquarters  for  the  regiment  to  move  to  Pulaski.  On 
the  19th  the  march  was  made,  a  detachment  of  dismounted 
cavalry  relieving  the  81st  in  the  onerous  duty  of  taking 
care  of  Lynnville. 

But  there  was  little  rest  at  Pulaski.  The  regiment 
barely  rested  there  until  Col.  Adams  received  orders  to 
take  his  command  to  Martin's  Plantation,  about  seven 
miles  distant,  for  the  purpose  of  putting  the  fences  in 
repair  and  guarding  the  public  animals  which  were  to  be 
pastured  there.  This  the  boys  looked  on  as  a  punishment 


76  HISTORY   OF   THE 

they  did  not  deserve.  If  guarding  railroads  was  unsuited 
to  their  military  ardor,  what  could  be  expected  in  the 
peaceful  occupation  of  a  quiet  farm,  in  mending  its  fences 
and  watching  a  sickly  herd  of  worn  out  Government 
horses  and  mules !  Nevertheless  this  life  had  its  charms 
ifi  freedom  from  military  displays,  in  drill  and  review,  and 
then  the  location  was  pleasant  and  healthy,  and  the  troops 
went  to  work  cheerfully  to  make  themselves  comfortable. 
Details  were  made  for  guarding  the  mules  that  were  luxu- 
uriating  in  the  rich  pasture,  and  for  splitting  rails  to 
repair  the  rickety  fences.  The  latter  parties  made  won 
derful  progress  in  the  way  of  felling  enormous  trees, 
but  did  very  little  toward  cutting  off  the  lengths  or  split 
ting  them  into  rails.  The  noise  of  the  falling  trees 
seemed  to  have  charms  for  them  above  the  pleasures  of 
turning  out  large  numbers  of  bright  new  rails. 

According  to  all  military  precedence,  the  establishment 
of  this  regiment  at  this  place  was  equivalent  to  fixing  it  here 
for  the  summer,  and  accordingly  a  site  was  selected  with 
great  care  for  a  permanent  camping  ground,  and  large 
details  were  made  to  clear  it  off  and  put  up  the  tents.  The 
ground  was  cleared  and  swept,  and  the  sound  of  axes 
and  hammers  grew  clamorous,  as,  under  the  hands  of  the 
busy  workmen  the  white  city  was  rapidly  taking  form, 
when,  as  if  by  some  stroke  of  witchery,  every  hand  was 
dropped,  and  building  up  was  changed  to  pulling  down. 
An  order  had  come  to  move  immediately  to  Pulaski.  It 
was  afternoon,  but  the  tents  were  immediately  pulled 
down  and  rapidly  loaded  into  wagons,  and  by  four  o'clock, 
on  the  26th  of  April,  the  regiment,  preceded  by  its  excel 
lent  drum  band  which  made  the  woods  resonant  with 
"The  girl  I  left  behind  me,"  started  again  toward  Pulaski. 
There  was  the  usual  amount  of  wondering  and  guessing 
about  what  this  movement  meant,  but  as  all  the  Govern 
ment  mules  and  horses  were  also  taken  to  Pulaski,  it  was 


EIGHTY-FIRST   OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  77 

universally  conceded  that  this  time  there  was  to  be  a 
general  movement.  After  a  brisk  march,  the  regiment 
went  into  bivouac  at  Pulaski,  and  learned  that  the  compa 
nies  under  Major  Evans  were  also  ordered  in,  and  that 
the  whole  division  was  under  marching  orders  and  would 
move  as  soon  as  the  extra  baggage  could  be  disposed  of. 
Then  ensued  a  busy  time.  The  accumulated  trash  of  six 
months'  garrison  duty  was  to  be  cast  aside,  and  the  sol 
diers  were  to  reduce  themselves  to  the  lightest  marching 
order.  Farewells  were  to  be  spoken  to  those  "  lights  of 
the  camp  " — the  wives  of  officers,  who,  by  their  presence, 
had  given  such  a  home  air  to  the  otherwise  forbidding 
country.  Alas !  who  could  tell  if  this  should  not  be  the 
last  farewell  ? 

The  day  before  the  departure  from  Pulaski,  the  troops 
were  called  out  to  witness  the  sad  sight  of  the  execution 
of  a  soldier  of  the  7th  Illinois,  who,  in  1862,  at  Corinth 
had  shot  his  captain.  He  was  tried  at  the  time  by  Court 
Martial,  and  sentenced  to  death,  but  the  finding  and  sen 
tence  were  by  some  means  lost,  and  the  general  belief 
was  that  they  never  would  be  found,  but  in  this  the  poor 
man  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  He  was  an  ill- 
favored  stolid  looking  man,  and  seemed  to  be  not  at  all 
affected  by  his  impending  fate.  He  marched  to  the  gal 
lows  with  an  air  of  carelessness  and  indifference  that  was 
positively  shocking.  A  short  prayer,  a  hasty  adjustment 
of  the  cap  and  rope — a  fall — and  all  was  over. 


78  HISTORY   OF  THE 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ATLANTA    CAMPAIGN — FROM    PULASKI   TO    RESACA. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  1864,  the  troops  of  the  old  Second 
Division  of  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  again  unfurled  their  banners  and  inarched  toward 
the  enemy.  Just  two  years  before,  they  had  started  from 
the  bloody  field  of  Shiloh,  on  the  then  famous  campaign 
against  Corinth.  It  was  of  a  little  more  than  a  month's 
duration,  and  required  a  march  of  not  much  more  than 
forty  miles,  including  the  pursuit  to  Booneville.  What 
of  the  coming  campaign?  Who  knows?  Will  it  last  a 
month  ?  It  certainly  will  require  more  than  forty  miles 
of  marching,  for  the  nearest  enemy  in  force  is  two  hun 
dred  miles  away,  at  Dal  ton.  Ah  !  it  is  well,  faithful  sol 
dier,  that  you  do  not  know  how  far  you  must  march — 
what  days  of  toil  and  nights  of  watching  await  you. 
And  you,  fated  ones,  who  are  marching  to  your  glorious 
death  on  the  battle-fields  of  Georgia,  and  to  your  soldier's 
grave  soon  to  envelop  you  there,  do  you  ask  to  know  what 
is  in  the  near  future  for  you?  No,  no  :  let  the  veil,  which 
the  beneficent  hand  of  Providence  has  drawn  over  the 
events  of  the  future,  rest.  You  have  nobly  chosen  the 
soldier's  lot;  go  on,  and  heroically  bear  whatsoever  bur 
den  shall  fall  to  you.  If  death  is  yours,  you  go  but  earlier 
to  your  rest ;  if  life,  the  gratitude  of  a  whole  country  will 
be  a  perpetual  incense,  reminding  you  of  the  sacrifices 
you  have  made. 

Gen.  Dodge's  entire  command,  known  as  the  Left  Wing 
of  the  16th  Army  Corps,  and  consisting  of  the  Second  Divis 
ion,  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  Sweeney,  and  the  Fourth 
Division  under  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  James  C.  Veatch, 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  79 

» 

moved  simultaneously  from  the  various  positions  in  such 
manner  as  to  concentrate  before  reaching  Chattanooga. 

The  first  day's  march  was  not  a  difficult  one.  The 
ground  was  a  little  muddy,  but  under  the  inspiriting  in 
fluence  of  the  splendid  drum  corps  of  the  regiment,  the 
boys  of  the  81st  tripped  gayly  through  the  streets  of 
Pulaski,  and  out  on  their  unknown  journey.  Every  few 
miles  on  the  way  the  drums  would  beat  up,  and  the 
scattered  and  half  weary  column  would  at  once,  as  if  by 
magic,  spring  into  order,  and  taking  the  cadenced  step, 
would  present  such  a  military  spectacle  as  astonished  the 
minds  of  the  rustic  and  openeyed  native  beholders.  Near 
night  we  came  to  the  Elk  Eiver,  flowing  broadly  before 
us,  but  innocent  of  ferry  or  bridge.  We  had  forded  Bear 
Creek  a  year  ago,  and  were  not  to  be  discomfited  now  by 
this  stream.  The  command  "forward!  "  was  given,  and 
the  head  of  the  column  plunged  in,  and  boldly  marched 
to  the  opposite  shore.  The  water  was  about  waist  deep, 
and  the  stream  a  hundred  yards  wide.  Many  never  dis 
robed  at  all,  but  most  were  careful  to  keep  their  clothing, 
as  well  as  their  powder,  dry.  The  command  bivouacked 
on  the  farther  shore. 

On  the  next  day  the  march  was  resumed  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Huntsville,  which  place  we  reached  on  the  evening 
of  May  1st.  From  Huntsville  the  line  of  march  was  along 
the  railroad  toward  Chattanooga.  All  along  we  found 
deserted  camps  where  the  15th  corps  had  been  encamped, 
which  gave  us  the  first  intimation  that  there  was  to  be  a 
grand  concentration  of  troops  against  the  rebel  army  at 
Dalton.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  Second 
Division  arrived  at  Larkinsville,  Alabama,  and  there  dis 
covered,  to  the  joy  of  the  tired  soldiers  that  cars  were  in 
waiting  to  transport  them  to  Chattanooga.  The  wagons 
were  all  sent  over  land  to  Chattanooga  under  escort  of 
Col.  Phillips  and  his  Ninth  Illinois  mounted  infantry. 


80  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  embarkation  occupied  nearly  half  a  day,  but  shortly 
after  noon  the  heavy  trains  got  under  way.  Yery  soon 
after  leaving  Stevenson  we  began  to  come  in  sight  of  the 
marching  column  of  the  15th  Corps,  which,  with  its  long 
lines  of  troops  and  immense  wagon  train,  seemed  to  stretch 
from  that  place  almost  to  Chattanooga.  By  sunset  our 
trains  arrived,  and  we  disembarked  and  went  into  bivouac 
at  the  base  of  grand  old  Lookout  Mountain.  But  not 
withstanding  the  historic  associations  called  up  by  that 
eternal  monument  to  the  gallantry  of  our  soldiers,  there 
was  no  time  for  satisfying  curiosity  by  visiting  the  inter 
esting  place,  for  early  on  the  5th  the  order  was  again 
forward,  and  the  troops  moved  south  about  nine  miles 
and  encamped  at  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mills,  where  the  first 
shots  in  the  battle  of  Chicamauga  were  fired. 

There  all  day  of  the  6th  was  spent  in  waiting  for  the 
15th  corps  to  get  up.  The  rest  was  gratefully  appreciated 
by  the  boys,  who  spent  the  day  in  bathing  in  the  waters 
of  the  classic  Chicamauga,  and  in  visiting  friends  in  other 
Ohio  regiments  in  the  corps. 

On  the  7th,  McPherson's  army  moved,  taking  the  road 
toward  Lafayette,  but  leaving  it  again  and  passing  that 
village  on  the  north.  The  command  halted  and  encamped 
for  the  night  at  Rock  Spring,  twelve  miles  from  Lee  & 
Gordon's  Mills.  The  next  day  wo  reached  Snake  Creek 
Gap  and  moved  well  down  into  it  that  night.  So  far  all 
was  well.  We  had  expected  opposition  in  entering  some 
of  these  gaps,  and  had  met  with  none.  A  couple  of  rebel 
scouts  had  boldly  crossed  our  column  on  the  8th,  between 
Col.  Burke  and  the  front  regiment  of  his  brigade,  but 
otherwise  we  saw  not  even  the  signs  of  where  soldiers 
had  been.  Gen.  Sherman's  advance  upon  the  enemy's 
front  at  Rocky  Face  Gap  had  been  so  vigorous  and  de 
monstrative  that  Johnston  did  not  suppose  it  possible  that 
a  body  of  troops  could  march  into  Snake  Creek  Gap. 


EIGHTY-FIRST   OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  81 

However,  it  became  known  to  him  about  this  time  that 
some  troops  had  reached  this  Gap,  and  accordingly  on  tho 
morning  of  the  9th,  as  the  16th  Corps  started  toward 
Resaca  with  the  9th  Illinois  mounted  infantry  in  advance, 
the  ball  was  opened  by  meeting  a  rebel  force  of  cavalry 
which  had  arrived  the  previous  night  to  defend  the'  Gap. 
Col.  Phillips  with  his  9th  boldly  charged  and  dl-ove  the 
rebels  back,  although  he  received  a  painful  wounxl  in  his 
ankle  which  sent  him  north.  Infantry  skirmishers  Were 
sent  to  the  support  of  the  cavalry  and  the  advance  was 
slowly  continued,  the  rebels  skirmishing  freely  as  they 
retired.  About  three  o'clock,  as  the  advance  brigade 
(the  2d)  was  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  Resaca,  a 
determined  fire  was  opened  by  the  rebels.  The  brigade 
was  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  four  companies  of  the 
81st  Ohio,  A,  B,  C  and  F,  were  sent  forward  as  skirmishers. 
The  rest  of  the  Second  Division  and  the  Fourth  Division 
were  brought  up  continuing  the  line  to  the  left.  An  ad 
vance  was  then  made  until  the  skirmish  line  was  within 
musket  shot  and  in  plain  view  of  the  rebel  fortifications 
immediately  in  and  about  Resaca.  Here  a  halt  was  called 
and  preparations  were  made  to  assault  the  place.  Slowly 
the  hours  wore  on,  but  with  the  exception  of  occasional 
bursts  of  picket  firing  there  was  no  demonstration  made. 
Private  Thomas  D.  Crossley  of  Company  B,  81st  Ohio, 
was  killed  about  four  o'clock  by  a  rebel  sharp  shooter. 
Ho  was  the  first  man  lost  by  the  regiment  in  this  cam 
paign. 

The  15th  Corps  was  close  behind  the  Sixteenth,  ready  to 
render  support  in  case  it  was  necessary :  the  rebel  force 
seemed  small — not  more  than  one  or  two  brigades,  and 
yet  the  order  to  assault  never  came.  Much  censure  was 
expressed  concerning  Gen.  McPherson's  course  here,  and 
many  asked  again  and  again  why  he  did  not  make  the 
attack  when  there  was  such  a  certainty  of  success.  The 
7 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE 

following  I  believe  to  be  the  real  explanation  of  his  course. 
In  marching  out  from  Snake  Creek  Gap  to  Resaca  that 
day,  he  had  crossed  a  road  which  leads  from  Dal  ton  to 
Rome.  It  was  a  good  plain  road  with  no  obstructions, 
and  as  it  came  from  Dalton  on  the  east  side  of  those  impass 
able  mountains  behind  which  was  the  remainder  of  General 
Sherman's  army,  it  was  of  course  much  shorter  than  one 
would  be  from  General  Sherman  to  McPherson.  Besides, 
it  ran  behind  General  McPherson's  position  before  Resaca, 
and  between  him  and  his  safe  retreat  in  Snake  Creek  Gap. 
All  this  of  course  was  known,  we  presume,  in  the  plan 
ning  of  the  campaign,  but  it  was  expected  that  the  move 
ment  would  be  a  surprise,  and  it  was  supposed,  too,  that 
Johnston  would  more  tenaciously  hold  his  position  at  Dal 
ton.  His  sensitiveness  as  to  the  safety  of  his  communica 
tions  was  not  then  so  well  known.  But  just  as  General 
McPherson  was  about  to  order  the  assault,  he  learned  that 
a  heavy  force  of  rebels  was  marching  down  the  Rome  road 
with  the  intention  of  cutting  him  off  from  Snake  Creek 
Gap,  and  consequently  from  the  rest  of  the  army.  With 
this  knowledge  he  determined  to  abandon  the  attack  on 
Resaca  and  fall  back  to  the  strong  defensible  position  in 
Snake  Creek  Gap.  According^  at  dusk  the  skirmishers 
were  quietly  called  in,  and  the  whole  force,  after  kindling 
innumerable  sham  camp  fires,  slowly  withdrew. 

The  next  morning  the  16th  Corps  was  placed  in  position 
at  the  south-west  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  Gap,  across  the 
Calhoun  road.  The  15th  Corps  took  position  farther  to 
the  left,  and  nearer  in  the  main  gap.  That  night  it  rained 
heavily,  and  just  as  the  heaviest  of  it  was  coming  down, 
and  when  the  soldiers  had  used  every  artifice  to  keep  dry 
in  order  to  obtain  some  sleep,  an  orderly  passed  hurriedly 
through  the  lines,  delivering  the  hasty  and  terrible  mes 
sage  to  company  commanders  :  "  Have  your  command  to 
fall  in  right  away,  Johnston  with  all  his  force  is  coming 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  83 

on  us!  "  Ah!  "  then  and  there  was  hurrying  to  and  fro," 
and  waking  up  of  men  whose  slumbers  clung  to  them  as  a 
garment.  Despite  the  dread  of  meeting  "  Johnston  and  all 
his  force,"  in  that  plight,  it  was  a  very  difficult  matter  to 
get  the  soldiers  roused  and  awakened  to  the  use  of  their 
faculties.  The  darkness  was  opaque  and  the  rain  was  un 
remitting,  yet  one  by  one  the  sleepy  soldiers  were  pulled 
out  into  line,  and  at  last,  when  commanders  supposed  all 
were  ready,  the  order  was  given  to  move.  It  was  laugha 
ble  next  morning  to  go  over  the  ground  occupied  by  our 
brigade  and  see  evidences  of  haste  in  decamping  the  night 
before.  Many  soldiers  had  barely  awakened  in  time  to 
go  with  the  troops,  and  left-  their  guns  and  accoutrements 
behind,  while  others  who  did  not  sleep  immediately  behind 
their  guns  were  not  awakened  at  all,  and  only  discovered 
in  the  morning  that  their  command  had  gone  they  knew 
not  where.  One  or  two  officers  had  the  misfortune  to 
forget  their  swords  and  field  glasses.  Every  article  of 
soldier's  use,  nearly,  was  found  next  morning  among  the 
abandoned  articles.  One  company  of  the  81st  Ohio  was 
left  on  picket  duty  on  the  line  which  the  brigade  left,  and 
they  found  themselves  well  supported  in  the  morning  by 
the  unfortunate  men  of  the  command  who  had  lost  por 
tions  of  their  property.  The  brigade  had  only  moved 
back  a  mile,  into  the  mouth  of  the  Gap,  where,  with  the 
rest  of  the  Corps  and  in  conjunction  with  the  15th  Corps, 
an  extensive  line  of  earthworks  was  commenced. 


84  H  [STORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  IX. 

ATLANTA    CAMPAIGN — FROM     SNAKE     CREEK    GAP    TO    LAY'S 

FERRY. 

All  day  of  the  llth  of  May,  spades  and  picks  were  busy 
in  the  construction  of  this,  the  first  ditch  of  the  campaign. 
All  day  the  troops  confidently  and  patiently  awaited  the 
approach  of  Johnston  and  all  his  force,  but  in  vain.  The 
army  had  not  yet  learned  the  caution  of  that  General,  or 
they  would  not  have  been  troubled  about  his  coming. 
Instead  of  Johnston,  the  troops  soon  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  the  advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  coming 
through  the  Gap.  Leaving  Schofield  to  hold  Johnston  at 
Rocky  Face.  Sherman  was  massing  to  defeat  him  at  Re- 
saca.  All  day  of  the  12th  the  long  lines  of  the  20th  and 
14th  Corps  came  through  and  beyond  our  lines  and  en 
camped  in  the  broad  fields  before  us.  Gen.  Sherman  and 
Gen.  Thomas  also  came  upon  the  scene,  and  it  was  evident 
that  something  important  was  to  bo  done. 

By  night  of  the  12th,  there  was  massed  in  the  low  ground 
at  the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek  Gap,  such  a  force  as  few  had 
seen  so  near  together  before  during  the  war.  Their  camp 
fires  that  chilly  night,  formed  a  scene  of  indescribable 
beauty  and  grandeur  which  wa^  not  untouched  by  a  tinge 
of  melancholy  interest  as  one  looked  upon  it  and  knew 
that  a  great  battle  would  be  fought  next  day,  and  that 
many  now  cheerful  and  happy  beside  these  fires,  would 
to-morrow  night  be  all  cold  and  lifeless  on  the  battle-field  ! 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  every  thing  was  astir. 
Cavalry  flocked  to  the  front  and  heavy  masses  of  infantry 
moved  after,  and  the  artillery  jostled  on  to  its  day's  work 
of  death.  Soon  the  left  of  the  army  became  engaged  near 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  85 

Eesaca.  As  the  day  wore  on,  the  battle  rolled  from  our 
left  toward  the  right,  but  did  not  reach  the  extreme  right 
where  the  l(3th  Corps  was  posted,  except  the  brigade  com 
manded  by  Col.  Sprague.  The  brigade  to  which  the  81st 
Ohio  belonged  moved  slowly  nearly  all  day,  going  into 
line  of  battle  several  times,  and  finally  bivouacking  within 
one  mile  of  Eesaca  at  night,  without  having  engaged  in 
the  fight.  Almost  all  day  the  battle  had  raged  with  vary 
ing  severity  on  our  left,  including  the  15th  Corps  which 
lay  almost  immediately  on  the  left  of  the  16th.  At  night 
fall  we  could  plainly  see  the  railroad  south  of  Resaca, 
where  train  after  train  was  seen  going  out,  evidently  car 
rying  away  wounded  and  stores,  preparatory  to  an  evacu 
ation. 

The  next  day,  14th,  was  the  final  day  of  the  battle  of 
Resaca,  but  as  the  81st  had  another  duty  to  perform, 
away  from  the  main  battle-field,  my  pen  will  follow  its 
movements.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  Gen. 
Sweeney's  Division  of  Gen.  Dodge's  command  was  ordered 
to  Lay's  Ferry,  where  Snake  Creek  empties  into  the  Ooste 
naula  river.  This  is  some  six  miles  from  Resaca,  and  five 
from  Calhoun — a  town  some  four  miles  south  of  Resaca, 
on  the  railroad  to  Atlanta.  It  was  determined  by  General 
Sherman  to  lay  a  pontoon  bridge  over  the  Oostenaula  at 
this  point,  in  order  that  a  force  could  be  hurled  against 
Johnston's  flank  and  rear,  in  case  he  should  determine  to 
retreat.  The  important  duty  of  laying  this  pontoon  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Sweeney's 
Division.  While  the  3d  brigade  was  instructed  to  make 
demonstrations  at  Calhoun  Ferry,  between  Resaca  and 
,  Lay's  Ferry,  the  other  two  brigades  proceeded  to  the 
latter  place. 

The  Oostenaula  is  a  deep,  narrow,  rapid  stream,  running 
at  this  ferry  through  banks  not  more  than  twenty  feet 
high.  On  each  side  the  land  rises,  at  a  distance  of  about 


86  HISTORY   OF  THE 

three  hundred  yards,  thirty  feet  more,  and  then  runs  back 
a  level  plain  for  a  long  distance.     On  the  rebel  side  of  the 
river  the  road  was  bordered  on  the  lower  side  by  a  dense 
forest;  on  the  upper  side  by  an  open  field.     On  the  Union 
side  the  road  to  the  ferry  ran  for  the  last  mile  through 
open  fields.     A  hundred  yards  below  the  ferry  and  op 
posite  the  forest  spoken  of  was  the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek, 
a  stream  twenty  feet  wide  and  two  or  three  feet  deep, 
with  precipitous  banks.     To  move  down  the  road  to  the 
ferry  through  those  open  fields  in  the  face  of  the  enemy 
would  be  almost  impossible,  as  the  crossing  was  defended 
by  Jackson's  rebel  brigade  of  cavalry,  with  entrenchments, 
and  aided  by  a  battery  of  artillery  under  cover.     It  was 
determined  to  make  the  crossing  at  the  mouth  of  Snake 
Creek,  where  the  deep  forest  and  the  line  of  trees  along 
its  bank  afforded  a  slight  screen  to  hide  our  movements. 
In  the  mean  time,  however,  very  vigorous  efforts  were 
apparently  made  to  force  a  way  to  the  river  along  the 
road,  in  order  to  attract  the  enemy's  attention  from  our 
real  movements.     A  line  of  skirmishers,  consisting  of  the 
66th  Illinois  was  pushed  clear  to  the  river,  and  Welker's 
Battery  was  stationed  in  an  open  field  without  cover  of 
any  sort  to  play  against  the  rebel  battery.     The  pontoon 
trains  were  then  unloaded  at  the  cross  roads,  a  mile  from 
the  ferry,  but  the  nearest  they  could  be  brought  without 
being  seen  by  the  rebels.     The  pontoon  boats,  which  con 
sisted  of  wooden  frames,  very  light  but  firm,  and  covered 
with  strong  white  canvas,  were  unloaded  and  put  in  order. 
Their  appearance  as  defensive  vessels  of  war  was  any  thing 
but  satisfactory  to  the  soldiers  who  anticipated  a  chance 
of  being  detailed  to  cross  the  river  in  them.     The  boys  .. 
called  them  "  canvas  ironclads,"  "  muslin  ships,"  and  other 
names  not  indicative  of  implicit  trust  in  their  defensive 
qualities.    The  7th  Iowa  regiment  was  detailed  to  perform 
the  laborious  task  of  carrying  these  boats  to  the  river,  or 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  87 

as  near  it  as  practicable.  The  81st  Ohio  and  12th  Illinois 
accompanied  as  a  support.  About  twenty  men  were 
assigned  to  each  boat.  •  Bearing  the  boats  aloft  on  their 
shoulders  and  walking  as  near  the  shelter  of  the  trees 
along  the  banks  of  Snake  Creek  as  they  could,  the  pro 
cession  started. 

Meantime  it  had  been  discovered  that  the  rebel  skirmish 
line  extended  down  the  bank  of  the  river  below  the  mouth 
of  Snake  Creek  where  we  intended  to  cross,  and  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  carry  the  boats  all  the  way  to  the 
river.  It  was  then  determined  to  carry  them  as  far  down 
Snake  Creek  as  possible,  and  then  under  cover  of  the  bank 
of  that  stream  launch  the  boats  in  it,  man  them,  row  down 
to  the  mouth  and  boldly  strike  across  the  Oostenaula,  and 
drive  the  rebels  from  the  opposite  shore.  Then,  when  the 
main  force  at  fhe  ferry  had  been  thus  flanked  and  driven 
away,  the  boats  could  be  towed  up  to  the  ferry  and  the 
bridge  made  at  the  desired  place.  But  here  a  difficulty 
presented  itself;  Snake  Creek  was  not  deep  enough  to 
float  the  boats  until  within  a  hundred  yards  of  its  mouth, 
and  there  the  rebel  sharpshooters  had  full  control — the 
artillery  and  weak  line  of  skirmishers  being  unavailing  to 
drive  them  off.  It  was  determined  to  send  the  81st  Ohio 
and  12th  Illinois  down  to  the  bank  to  reinforce  the 
skirmishers,  and  under  cover  of  a  vigorous  musketry  fire 
from  these  two  regiments,  the  boats  were  to  be  rapidly 
launched.  As  the  rebels  saw  these  regiments  approaching, 
they  redoubled  their  fire,  and  as  there  was  a  wide  open 
field  to  cross  before  reaching  the  river  bank,  the  troops 
were  ordered  forward  double-quick.  Catching  the  inspira 
tion  of  a  charge,  as  the  soldiers  quickened  their  pace  they 
raised  their  voices,  and  with  a  yell  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  a  whole  tribe  of  Camanches,  the  81st  Ohio  and 
12th  Illinois  rushed  across  the  field  and  dropped  behind 
the  fence  and  bushes  on  the  bank  of  the  river  ;  and  such 


88  HISTORY   OF   THE 

a  firing  as  then  ensued  !  The  rebels,  with  a  strong  skir 
mish  line,  were  just  across  the  narrow  river  behind  the 
trees,  while  we,  with  a  skirmish  line  and  a  line  of  battle, 
let  loose  volley  after  volley  at  them.  The  fire  was  warmly 
returned  and  their  spiteful  balls  struck  thickly  among  the 
rails  and  on  the  ground,  while  here  and  there  some  poor 
fellow  was  wounded  or  killed.  While  this  close  and  deaf 
ening  firing  was  in  progress,  the  rebels  were  so  much  occu 
pied  by  it  that  our  boats  were  safely  launched.  Still  the 
rebels  were  not  to  be  scared  away,  and  there  was  nothing 
left  but  the  last  dangerous  resort  of  boldly  pushing  a  force 
across  and  storming  the  bank. 

Who  should  cross  first?  There  were  not  wanting  brave 
men  who  would  willingly  volunteer  for  such  a  duty,  but 
volunteers  were  not  called  for.  Upon  whom  was  this  lot 
of  danger,  and  possibly  of  honor  to  fall  ?  It  was  the 
original  plan,  I  believe,  to  send  across  the  66th  Illinois 
and  support  them  with  other  troops,  but  as  they  had 
already  been  heavily  engaged  in  skirmishing,  and  had 
spent  much  of  their  ammunition,  the  order  had  to  be 
changed.  One  company  of  the  66th,  however,  which  had 
been  in  reserve,  and  two  companies  of  the  81st  Ohio,  B 
and  C,  were  ordered  to  embark  in  the  "  muslin  ships " 
which  had  already  been  launched  in  Snake  Creek.  These 
companies  had  to  be  divided  in  embarking,  as  the  boats 
would  hold  but  eighteen  or  twenty  men  each.  These 
three  companies  being  safely  embarked  and  the  rebels 
making  but  little  disturbance,  it  was  determined  to  fill 
the  remaining  boats  and  let  them  follow  closely  to  assist 
in  case  of  need.  But  chance  at  last  decided  who  should 
cross  first,  for  the  boats  had  become  somewhat  mixed  up 
in  the  embarking,  and  when  all  was  ready,  Lieut.  Colonel 
Adams,  to  whom  had  been  entrusted  the  delicate  duty  of 
superintending  the  first  crossing  of  troops,  directed  the 
first  three  boats  to  movie  down  the  stream  and  cross.  The 


EIGHTY -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  89 

order  in  which  they  lay  when  the  order  was  gi?en,  gave 
the  advance  to  Lieut.  Geo.  W.  Dixon,  with  a  platoon  of 
Co.  B,  81st  Ohio;  next  was  Capt.  Hays,  with  a  platoon  of 
Co.  I.  66th  Illinois,  and  third,  Capt.  \V.  H.  Chamberlin,  with 
a  platoon  of  Co.  C,  81st  Ohio.  The  command  of  these  three 
boats  and  of  the  skirmishers  when  they  should  land,  was 
given  to  the  latter  officer.  All  was  at  last  ready;  the 
detailed  instructions  to  each  platoon  were  given.  Before 
those  brave  men  loomed  a  dark  deep  forest  which  might 
prove  to  them  a  magazine  of  death  !  At  its  edge  flowed 
the  angry,  rapid  Oostenaula,  perhaps  soon  to  be  crimsoned 
by  their  life-blood.  Yet  from  this  possible  fate  not  a  man 
shrank,  though  many  a  heart  stood  still  a  moment,  and 
many  a  thought  of  home  and  dear  ones  came  up  as  for  a 
last  retrospect. 

The  order  was  given  for  the  three  boats  to  proceed. 
Silently  the  oarsmen  from  the  Pioneer  Corps  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  who  had  taken  thus  the  advance  of 
that  army  across  the  Tennessee  at  Caperton  Ferry,  and 
who  rowed  Sherman  across  to  assist  in  the  battle  of  Chat 
tanooga,  but  who  had  never  yet  made  a  crossing  in  the 
immediate  face  of  the  enemy,  dipped  their  long  oars  into 
the  muddy  waters  of  Snake  Creek  and  moved  the  boats 
toward  the  river.  Not  a  word  is  spoken,  except  a  few 
hurried  injunctions  from  the  leading  oarsmen  to  the  others 
to  keep  time  and  pull  together.  As  still  as  death,  the 
white  boats,  with  their  living  cargoes  of  blue  move  on 
down  Snake  Creek.  They  have  nearly  reached  the  river 
when  a  startling  voice  from  the  rear  cries  out — "halt!" 
The  hindmost  two  of  the  boats  hear  the  order  and  stop, 
but  the  foremost  does  not,  and  is  already  out  in  the  river, 
where  to  stop  or  attempt  to  turn  back  would  be  certain 
death ;  while  to  go  forward,  alone,  would  be  simply  to  go 
deliberately  as  prisoners.  Shall  the  gallant  little  crew  be 
abandoned  to  its  fate ?  There  is  no  way  to  get  it  back, 


90  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  it  cannot  go  on  in  safety.     What  shall  be  done?     Col. 
Adams  quickly  decided  to  order  forward  the  other  two 
boats.     Obeying  the  order  without  questioning  why,  they 
sped   forward   into  the  river.     The  first  boat  was  now 
nearly  across,  the  second  had  reached  the  middle  of  the 
stream,  but  the  third,  on  entering  the  river  had  struck  on 
a  snag  !     At  this  juncture  the  rebels  appeared  to  have  first 
discovered  the   movement,    and   plash !    plash !    into   the 
water  came  the  balls  around  the  third  boat !     Happily  it 
was  easily  got  adrift,  and  bending  to  their  oars  right  gal 
lantly,  those  sturdy  oarsmen  sped  the  little  boat  like  a  dart 
through  that  gauntlet  of  Death !     Almost  simultaneously 
with  the  first  three  boats  came  the  fourth  and  fifth,  bring 
ing  the  remainder  of  Companies  B  and  C,  81st  Ohio,  under 
Lieutenants  Miller  and  Irion.     It  was  the  work  of  but  a 
moment  to  deploy  those  willing  soldiers  along  the  bank, 
and  then  with  a  bound  and  a  yell  and  a  volley,  to  spring 
up  the  bank  and  scatter  the  astonished  rebels  like  sheep. 
In  almost  as  brief  a  space  of  time  as  it  takes  to  write  it,  the 
gallant  little  band  had  captured  almost  as  large  a  body  of 
prisoners,  including  one  captain  and  two  lieutenants.    The 
main  rebel  force  on  the  left  at  the  ferry,  finding  them 
selves  outflanked  by  an  unknown  number  of  Yankees — 
for  they  could  see  nothing  of  our  operations,  and  could 
only  judge  by  the  yelling,  which  was  participated  in  by 
the  rest  of  the  Division — took  to  flight  for  safety.     Some 
of  the  fleeter  footed  of  our  skirmishers  were  in  time  to 
overtake  some  of  them  and  take  them  prisoners.     Three 
men  of  Company  C,  81st  Ohio,  John  M.  Henness,  Samuel 
T.  Wiley,  and  James  E.  J.  Dill,  took  eleven  rebels  pris 
oners  in  one  squad,  including  one  captain  and  two  lieu 
tenants.     By  this  time  the  boats  had  been  busy  in  bring 
ing  over  re-enforcements,  consisting  of  Companies  A,  E,  F? 
and  H,  81st  Ohio,  two  companies  of  the  66th  Illinois,  and 
one  from  the  12th  Illinois — all  under  command  of  Captain 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  91 

W.  H.  Hill,  81st  Ohio,  and  the  little  band  that  had  first 
landed  felt  no  further  apprehensions  for  their  safety.  Sev 
eral  times  the  rebels  gathered  their  forces,  and  attempted 
to  make  a  charge,  but  our  boys  bravely  met  them  with  a 
volley  and  a  cheer,  and  drove  them  back.  The  peril  of 
the  crossing  being  passed  and  complete  success  crowning 
the  movement  so  far,  it  was  with  a  feeling  of  bitter  disap 
pointment  that  the  troops  received  the  order  about  sunset 
to  withdraw,  and  re-cross  the  river.  Soon  after  sunset  the 
troops  were  all  safely  across  the  river,  and  so  demoralized 
and  frightened  were  the  enemy  that  they  did  not  discover 
our  withdrawal  in  time  to  fire  a  shot  at  us.  Thus  ended 
the  first  passage  of  the  Oostenaula  by  Sherman's  army. 

It  will  afford  but  little  consolation  to  the  brave  men  who 
participated  in  it,  or  to  the  friends  of  those  whose  blood  dyed 
that  river,  to  know  that  a  delay  of  one  minute  in  starting 
the  first  boat  would  have  been  sufficient  to  have  prevented 
the  crossing  of  any  of  them.  Gen.  McPherson  had  received 
information  that  a  large  rebel  force  was  crossing  at  Cal- 
houn  ferry  between  us  and  the  main  army,  for  the  evident 
purpose  of  cutting  off  Gen.  Sweeney's  Division.  He  im 
mediately  dispatched  a  courier  to  Gen.  Sweeney,  telling 
him  to  delay  the  crossing  until  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the 
rumor  could  be  ascertained.  This  courier  arrived  and  the 
order  to  cross  was  countermanded  just  too  late  to  be  heard 
by  the  first  boat,  as  above  stated,  and  then  the  remaining 
boats  crossed  merely  to  save  the  crew  of  that  one.  The 
rumor  about  the  enemy  crossing  proved  false,  but  it  was 
not  ascertained  in  time  to  lay  the  pontoons  that  night,  and 
hence  the  troops  were  withdrawn. 

The  crossing  was  not  effected  without  loss.  In  the 
fourth  boat  that  crossed,  Sergeant  Crothers  and  Private 
John  M.  Wiley,  81st  Ohio,  and  one  of  the  oarsmen,  were 
instantly  killed.  Sergeant  Baird,  81st  Ohio,  had  captured 
three  rebels,  and  was  just  marching  them  off,  when  a  rebel 


92  HISTORY  OF  THE 

officer  appeared  and  threatened  to  shoot  them  if  they  did 
not  seize  their  guns  and  fire  on  Baird;  they  obeyed  and 
shot  him,  severely  wounding  him  about  the  head  and 
leaving  him  for  dead.  A  number  of  others  were  wounded, 
and  one,  Private  David  Y.  Lyttle,  was  captured,  having, 
in  his  eagerness  to  capture  prisoners,  ventured  too  far 
forward. 

During  this  day  and  night,  while  these  operations  were 
in  progress,  on  the  extreme  right,  the  main  part  of  Sher 
man's  army  was  engaged  heavily  at  and  around  Resaca. 
Far  into  the  night,  the  sullen  boom  of  the  cannon  and  the 
rattle  of  musketry  told  of  the  fierce  conflict  in  progress 
there.  Saturday  morning  brought  the  news  of  the  evacu 
ation  of  Resaca,  and  the  retreat  of  Johnston's  whole  army 
southward.  Oh!  then  for  the  pontoon  bridge  which  might 
have  been  laid  at  Lay's  Ferry  the  previous  day.  Such  a 
staggering  blow  as  could  be  directed  against  the  retreating 
enemy  from  this  road  !  But  as  the  bridge  was  not  already 
there,  the  next  best  thing  was  to  put  it  there  as  quickly  as 
possible,  and  General  Sweeney's  command  again  undertook 
it.  This  time  the  rebels  seemed  less  determined,  and  a 
strong  demonstration  being  made  against  them  they  fled 
from  the  river  bank  and  allowed  the  peaceable  laying  of  the 
bridge  at  Lay's  Ferry,  just  where  it  was  wanted.  As  soon 
as  it  was  in  a  condition  to  bear  footmen,  the  infantry  of 
the  first  brigade  crossed  and  took  position  along  the  river 
bank  on  the  right.  The  second  followed  and  formed  on 
the  left  of  the  road  along  the  bank.  For  some  reason,  the 
forwarding  of  more  troops  seemed  delayed,  as  was  the 
preparation  of  the  bridge.  No  artillery  crossed  on  that 
day,  and  no  advance  by  the  infantry  was  made.  A  skir 
mish  line  was  thrown  forward,  which  soon  discovered  a 
rebel  force  in  position.  In  fact  we  could  see  their  skir 
mishers  in  the  farther  edge  of  the  field.  In  the  evening, 
as  soon  as  our  skirmishers  made  a  slight  advance,  the 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  93 

rebels  essayed  a  charge,  and  did  emerge  from  the  woods 
in  good  line  with  guns  at  a  right  shoulder  shift.  On  they 
came  with  nothing  apparently  to  oppose  them  but  the 
thin  line  of  skirmishers,  for  they  could  not  see  the  troops 
of  the  first  brigade  which  had  been  thrown  forward  behind 
a  slight  elevation  on  the  right  of  the  road.  Suddenly 
their  easy  progress  was  arrested  by  our  remorseless  shell 
thrown  from  Welker's  battery  with  unerring  certainty, 
from  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  bursting  with  terrible 
effect  plump  among  them.  Almost  at  the  same  time  a 
blinding  volley  from  our  infantry,  behind  the  elevation, 
came  into  their  faces.  Their  line  halted  in  sheer  conster 
nation — then  wavered — rallied  and  fired  a  weak  volley — 
wavered  again,  and  then  melted  away,  leaving  traces  of 
its  position  in  the  blood  of  the  wounded  and  the  bodies  of 
the  slain.  So  plainly  in  sight  of  the  second  brigade  was 
this  little  battle,  that  although  out  of  ordinary  range,  the 
boys  could  not  resist  having  a  "  pop"  at  them.  The  rebel 
lines  were  near  enough  for  some  of  their  balls  to  reach  us. 
One  man  of  the  66th  Illinois  was  killed  here,  and  Color- 
Sergeant,  John  A.  Wilson,  81st  Ohio,  received  a  painful 
wound  while  defiantly  waving  his  flag  at  the  enemy. 


94  HISTORY   OF   THE 


CHAPTER  X. 

ATLANTA    CAMPAIGN — FROM    LAY'S    FERRY    TO    BIG     SHANTY. 

That  night  the  Second  Division  lay  at  the  Ferry,  and 
after  night  threw  up  defensive  works — a  precaution  which 
proved  entirely  unnecessary.  The  next  day  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  corps  was  ordered  up,  and  the  bridge  being 
completed,  the  artillery  was  crossed  over,  and  at  10 
o'clock  General  Sweeney's  Division  again  started  forward. 
At  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  two  we  came  upon  a  strong 
defensive  position  of  the  rebels  which  was  abandoned, 
showing  that  retreat  was  in  progress.  About  one  o'clock, 
our  skirmishers  became  engaged  with  the  rebels,  and  it 
was  soon  ascertained  that  Cleburne's  and  Walker's  divis 
ions  of  the  rebel  army  were  posted  there  to  protect  a 
wagon  train  which  was  passing  along  a  road  beyond  one 
known  as  the  Rome  road.  General  Dodge  arrived  about 
this  time  and  gave  personal  attention  to  the  disposition  of 
the  troops.  Without  knowing  anything  definitely  of  the 
enemy's  strength  or  position  save  what  was  gathered  from 
the  fact  that  his  skirmish  line  was  very  long,  it  was  im 
possible  to  make  a  close  formation  with  a  single  Division. 
The  4th  Division  had  not  yet  come  up.  General  Dodge 
placed  the  first  brigade  on  the  left  of  the  road,  facing 
eastwardly.  Then  with  an  interval  between,  the  third 
brigade  was  placed  on  the  right  of  the  first,  facing  to  the 
north-east,  while  still  farther  to  the  right  and  facing  north, 
was  the  second  brigade.  Our  long  line  of  skirmishers  was 
continually  engaged,  especially  on  the  right.  General 
McPherson  himself  rode  along  the  lines,  and  as  the  rebel 
troops  were  too  strong  for  this  one  Division,  and  as  the 
remainder  of  the  16th  Corps,  followed  by  the  15th  Corps, 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  95 

were  coining  up,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  he  ordered  that 
the  enemy  should  not  be  pressed.  Two  hours  of  skirmish 
ing  ensued,  when  our  boys  on  the  right  of  the  line,  be 
coming  impatient,  and  being  under  command  of  the  rest 
less  Captain  George  A.  Taylor,  66th  Illinois,  advanced 
slightly,  and  drove  the  rebel  skirmishers  from  their  posi 
tion,  beyond  the  Rome  road.  Captain  Taylor,  on  reaching 
this  road,  and  seeing  a  party  of  rebels  fleeing  down  it,  took 
a  few  men  with  him  and  started  in  pursuit.  Reckless  of 
life,  he  followed,  until  suddenly  a  volley  from  a  party  in 
ambush  burst  upon  him,  and  he  fell,  dead — shot  through 
the  brain.  The  death  of  Captain  Taylor  had  such  a  dis 
heartening  effect  on  his  men  that  they  began  to  yield, 
gradually,  the  ground  they  had  gained.  Almost  the  entire 
regiment  of  sharpshooters,  (66th  Illinois)  was  deployed  as 
skirmishers,  and  three  companies  of  the  81st  Ohio,  under 
Captain  Hill,  were  sent  out  to  support  them.  Holding 
the  rebels  with  this  long  line,  and  waiting  for  the  4th 
Division  to  come  up,  the  time  was  passing,  while  but  little 
progress  was  made.  Perceiving  that  we  did  not  attack, 
and  perhaps  thinking  we  were  weak,  the  enemy  began  to 
press  our  lines.  Stronger  and  stronger  became  the  firing 
on  the  right,  until  it  was  evident  that  their  attack  would 
be  at  that  place. 

Colonel  Burke,  our  brigade  commander,  went  forward 
to  learn  as  well  as  possible  the  nature  of  the  ground  and 
the  position  of  the  enemy.  It  was  almost  all  a  dense  forest 
filled  thickly  with  a  dense  undergrowth  of  pine,  and  it  was 
impossible  to  ascertain  anything  except  by  hearing.  Both 
General  McPherson  and  General  Dodge  now  appeared  at 
the  right  and  the  former  directed  that  the  right  should  be 
refused  a  little.  Although  the  enemy  was  hidden  from 
view,  and  the  balls  were  thickly  striking  among  the  trees, 
General  Dodge  rode  forward  to  the  advanced  line  and 
gave  directions  in  person  as  to  its  position.  The  attack 


96  HISTORY  OF  THE 

was  coming  directly  on  the  right  flank  of  the  second 
brigade,  and  its  regiments  were  disposed  thus :  the  66th 
Illinois  was  scattered  along  a  mile  of  skirmish  line.  The 
81st  Ohio  was  divided  into  three  battalions,  each  separated 
some  distance  from  the  others.  The  12th  Illinois  on  the 
left  of  the  81st  was  almost  intact — one  or  two  companies 
perhaps  on  the  skirmish  line.  To  meet  the  exigency  of  a 
charge  on  the  flank,  the  battalion  of  the  81st  Ohio,  under 
Major  Evans,  was  ordered  to  change  front  so  as  to  face  to 
the  east  toward  the  Eome  road.  Hardly  was  this  accom 
plished  until  the  rebels,  pressing  in  the  skirmishers,  began 
the  attack  on  the  two  right  battalions  of  the  81st  Ohio,  un 
der  Lieutenant-Colonel  Adams  and  Captain  Hill.  The 
latter  being  on  the  extreme  right  was  soon  enveloped  by 
the  enemy,  and  compelled  to  fall  back  aL»d  join  Colonel 
Adams'  battalion.  The  12th  Illinois  was  now  hurried 
forward  and  to  the  right,  to  fill  the  gap  between  Major 
Evans'  battalion  and  the  others  of  the  81st  Ohio.  About 
this  time,  Major  Evans,  who  had  been  ordered  to  hold  that 
valley  until  further  orders,  perceived  a  line  of  rebels  bear 
ing  down  upon  him.  Relying  on  the  tried  gallantry  of 
his  command,  without  stopping  to  think  how  many  were 
in  his  front,  he  ordered  a  charge.  With  a  resounding 
cheer  the  men  rose,  and,  as  one  man,  moved  resistlessly 
forward  over  logs  and  through  thick  pine  brush,  stopping 
for  no  obstacles.  Volley  after  volley  they  sent,  too,  rat 
tling  through  the  trees  among  the  rebel  ranks,  as  the  line 
kept  advancing.  By  this  time,  too,  the  12th  on  the  right 
came  up,  and  it,  with  the  remaining  battalions  of  the  81st, 
still  farther  on  the  right,  sent  so  many  balls  through  those 
almost  impenetrable  woods,  and  raised  such  unearthly 
shouts,  that  the  rebel  hearts  failed,  and  they  ignobly  fled. 
The  brigade  carried  the  pursuit  some  distance,  so  far, 
indeed,  that  a  part  of  Major  Evans'  battalion  found  an 
enemy  immediately  on  its  left  flank,  and  quickly  changing 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  97 

front,  and  having  advantage  of  position,  drove  them  from 
the  field. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  third  brigade  was  menaced.  One 
of  its  batteries  being  in  a  somewhat  advanced  position, 
was  coveted  by  some  sharp-shooters  who  attempted  to 
capture  it.  A  vigorous  shelling  was  given  also  to  that 
part  of  the  line,  some  of  the  shells  bursting  far  in  our  rear, 
and  raising  an  incipient  panic  among  some  casual  teams, 
ambulances  and  caissons  passing  along  the  road,  but  no 
serious  attack  was  made  except  on  the  second  brigade. 

As  it  was  now  late,  and  the  4th  Division  had  come  up, 
it  was  determined  to  withdraw  the  Second  Division  and 
relieve  it  with  the  fourth.  The  withdrawal  was  done 
easily,  as  from  subsequent  events  we  may  infer  that  the 
enemy  was  quite  anxious  to  give  us  no  trouble  as  long  as 
we  did  not  molest  him.  In  fact  the  attack  was  only  made 
to  cover  a  hasty  movement  in  retreat  of  their  wagon  trains, 
and  there  was  no  disposition  to  take  the  offensive.  They 
were  perfectly  satisfied  to  be  let  alone,  as  they  were,  from 
nearly  sunset.  This  may  account  for  their  feeble  defense, 
and  the  consequent  small  loss  inflicted  on  our  troops,  which 
did  not  exceed  seventy-five. 

Colonel  P.  E.  Burke,  of  the  66th  Illinois,  was  here 
wounded,  and,  in  consequence,  soon  after  lost  his  life,  lie 
was  in  the  front  from  the  beginning.  Early  in  the  en 
gagement  a  ball  struck  his  left  leg  below  the  knee  and 
shattered  the  bone.  He  rode  up  to  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Adams,  and  quietly  remarking  that  he  was  wounded,  turned 
over  the  command  of  the  brigade  to  that  officer,  and  rode 
away.  His  leg  was  amputated  and  he  was  started  north 
to  recover,  but  gangrene  supervening,  his  death  ensued 
before  he  could  leave  Georgia. 

During  the   short  time  that   he   had  commanded   the 
brigade  he  had  endeared  himself  to  his  entire  command 
by  his  gentlemanly  courtesy  and  uniform  kindness.     By 
8 


08  HISTORY  OF  THE 

his  gallant  bearing  in  the  field,  every  soldier  was  con 
strained  to  repose  the  fullest  confidence  in  his  bravery, 
and  his  death  was  deeply  and  sincerely  lamented  by  his 
command.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Adams  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  the  brigade,  and  Major  Evans  had  command 
of  the  81st  Ohio. 

Tins  engagement,  fought  on  the  16th  of  May,  1864,  was 
known  as  the  battle  of  Rome  Cross  Roads. 

The  next  three  days  witnessed  the  grand  beginning  of 
the  great  race  southward  of  the  two  armies.  I  say  the 
beginning,  for  although  Sherman  halted  purposely  at 
Kingston,  to  replenish  his  stock  of  supplies,  he  did  not 
again  come  in  determined  contact  with  the  enemy  until 
ho  found  him  at  Dallas.  Late  on  the  evening  of  the  17th 
of  May,  the  16th  Corps  started  forward  in  the  direction  of 
the  enemy,  southward.  The  whole  army,  indeed,  was 
also  in  motion.  By  various  roads  the  interminable  lines 
of  blue,  dotted  with  the  almost  numberless  white-covered 
army  wagons,  were  moving  almost  without  cessation  night 
and  day  toward  an  enemy.  Before  noon  of  the  19th,  the 
advance  of  General  Sherman's  army  entered  Kingston, 
driving  out  the  rebel  rear-guard.  On  the  18th,  eleven 
engines  and  trains,  under  Confederate  control,  lay  there, 
and  late  in  the  evening  moved  south  with  the  army.  Be 
fore  daylight  of  the  20th,  a  Yankee  engineer  sounded  the 
whistle  that  heralded  the  approach  of  the  first  engine  un 
der  Federal  direction.  As  the  roar  of  the  whistle  re 
echoed  through  those  mountains,  it  received  a  gladsome 
welcome  in  the  answering  shouts  of  the  thousands  of  troops 
who  literally  swarmed  all  over  the  ground.  The  boys 
often  facetiously  remarked,  in  view  of  the  close  following 
up  of  the  rebels  by  our  railroad  trains,  that  General  John 
ston  traveled  on  a  train  just  in  advance  of  General  Sher 
man,  and  that  the  former  kept  his  train  flagged  to  keep 
Sherman  from  running  into  him!  Through  the  entreaties 


EIGHTY- FIRST   OHIO   INFANTRY   VOLS.  99 

of  Governor  Brown,  who  was  anxious  to  save  the  property 
of  the  State,  the  Confederates  did  very  little  damage  to  the 
road,  as  they  retreated,  and  General  Sherman  could  thus 
keep  his  trains  up  with  his  army. 

The  81st  Ohio  had  three  good  days  of  rest  on  a  green 
grassy  hill-side,  at  Kingston,  while  a  portion  of  the  army 
advanced  a  few  miles  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy. 
During  these  three  days,  General  Sherman's  untiring  en 
ergy,  infused  into  his  subordinates,  had  brought  forward 
twenty  days'  supplies  for  the  entire  army,  and  he  was 
ready  again  to  assume  the  defensive. 

While  we  were  lying  at  Kingston,  Colonel  Mersey,  9th 
Illinois,  returned,  and,  by  virtue  of  seniority,  took  com 
mand  of  the  brigade — Colonel  Adams  returning  to  the 
command  of  the  81st  Ohio. 

The  enemy  had  halted  at  the  Etowah  river,  and,  on  the 
19th,  Gen.  Johnston  had  issued  a  battle  order  to  his  troops, 
announcing  that  he  would  now  turn  and  lead  them  against 
the  foe,  and  exhorting  them  to  acquit  themselves  valiantly. 
Prisoners  afterward  taken  said  that  the  order  was  scarcely 
read  to  some  of  the  regiments  until  the  inevitable  order 
to  fall  back  came,  and  the  enemy  crossed  the  river.  Here, 
then,  was  not  only  the  river  in  their  front,  but  the  Alla- 
toona  Pass  was  in  their  possession — an  admirable  defensive 
position.  To  dislodge  them,  General  Sherman  again  de 
termined  on  a  flank  movement,  and  again  he  ordered 
McPherson  to  the  right,  to  lead  the  flanking  force.  This 
time  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  81st  Ohio  to  form  a  part  of  the 
rear  of  the  column,  on  the  starting  out.  They  were  to 
follow  after  the  wagon  trains.  Never,  perhaps,  did  they 
have  so  unpleasant  a  verification  of  the  adage  that  "  large 
bodies  move  slowly,"  as  on  the  present  occasion.  Early 
in  the  morning  of  the  23d,  orders  were  given  to  be  ready 
to  march  at  a  moment's  notice,  but  the  morning  wore  away 
and  left  the  troops  lying  as  the  sunrise  had  found  them. 


100  HISTORY  OF  THE 

At  noon  the  glad  sound  of  "fall  in  "  was  heard,  for  every 
soldier  dreaded  the  prospect  of  a  night  march,  which  was 
sure  to  come  if  they  did  not  start  soon.  Still  the  great 
parks  of  wagons  were  slowly  winding  out  into  the  roads, 
and  the  troops  had  to  halt  very  soon  after  starting.  It 
seemed  as  if  the  last  wagon  would  never  come.  Sadly 
enough  the  troops  saw  the  sun  declining,  and  knew  they 
were  doomed  to  a  night  march — a  thing  more  perplexing 
and  troublesome  than  almost  anything  else  a  soldier  had 
to  undergo.  It  was  actually  sunset  when  the  last  of  the 
troops  left  Kingston,  and  a  night  march,  of  course,  fol 
lowed.  Tired  with  the  whole  day's  tedious  waiting,  and 
then,  to  follow  a  long  wagon  train,  after  night,  was  the 
acme  of  a  soldier's  misery.  There  is  nothing  more  trying 
to  the  patience  than  marching  after  a  wagon  train.  Mov 
ing  forward  ten  feet,  perhaps,  there  is  an  unexplained  halt 
of  two  minutes,  then  another  forward,  double-quick,  for  a 
hundred  yards,  then  a  halt  of  half  an  hour,  and  so  on, 
with  variations  as  to  time  and  distance,  until  the  most  pa 
tient  heartily  wishes  there  was  no  such  thing  as  a  mule, 
or  a  wheel,  connected  with  the  army.  Plunging  into  gut 
ters,  tumbling  over  stumps  and  stones,  running  eyes  plump 
against  the  muzzle  of  the  gun  of  a  careless  file-leader,  get 
ting  notice  to  halt  only  by  blundering  against  the  man  in 
advance,  and  being  in  turn  blundered  against  by  the  man 
behind ;  covered,  enveloped,  penetrated,  body  and  clothes, 
with  the  dirty,  gray  mist  of  dust,  two  inches  deep  on  the 
ground,  is  it  any  wonder  that  the  soldiers  dreaded  a  night 
march  ?  But  this  was  the  lot  of  the  81st  Ohio  that  night. 
At  midnight  they  got  into  camp,  and  soon  forgot  all  their 
discomforts  in  sleep,  such  as  only  the  soldier  can  appreciate. 
On  the  24th,  McPherson's  command  encamped  at  Van 
Wcrt,  a  little  village  some  twenty  miles  south-west  of 
Kingston,  and  apparently  far  removed  from  all  military 
operations.  From  Van  Wert  the  line  of  march  was  changed 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  1C1 

toward  Dallas,  which  place  was  entered,  after  slight  skir 
mishing,  simultaneously  by  McPherson's  force  and -by 
General  Jeff.  C.  Davis'  division  of  the  14th  Corps.  That 
night,  as  some  of  the  troops  were  going  into  bivouac,  they 
were  fired  into,  and  the  next  morning  it  was  a  matter  of 
some  surprise  to  many  to  find  that  the  rebel  army  was 
lying  close  in  our  front,  and  that  a  great  battle  might  be 
fought  that  day.  But  either  the  rebels  were  themselves 
too  weak,  or  were  unadvised  of  our  lengthened  line,  and 
they  did  not  press  their  advantage.  Accordingly  the  27th 
was  occupied  in  stretching  out  our  troops  in  the  most  de 
fensible  positions,  and,  at  the  same  time,  pressing  the 
enemy  as  much  as  possible.  The  81st  Ohio  was  called  out 
to  form  a  part  of  the  skirmish  line,  but,  in  the  course  of 
the  movement,  it  was  crowded  out,  and  remained  in  re 
serve.  The  day's  work  was  one  of  the  most  severe  and 
extended  skirmishes  we  had  then  known.  At  night  our 
troops  had  gained  some  good  positions,  and  fortifications 
were  hastily  thrown  up.  The  15th  Corps  was  on  the  right 
of  the  14th,  and  formed  the  extreme  right  of  the  army. 
On  the  left  of  the  16th  was  Davis'  division  of  the  14th 
Corps  ;  then  a  gap,  and  then  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
and  of  the  Ohio. 

All  day  of  the  28th  there  was  heavy  skirmishing.  The 
rattling  musketry,  and  occasional  hoarse  notes  of  the  ar 
tillery,  betokened  enough  of  battle  to  keep  a  slow  proces 
sion  of  ambulances  passing  between  the  front  and  the  hos 
pitals  to  convey  the  wounded.  Toward  evening  an  unu 
sual  activity  appeared  among  the  rebels  in  front  of  Gen 
eral  Logan's  right.  A  storm  was  coming,  where  should  it 
break  ?  The  attempt  to  turn  Logan's  flank  was  only  a 
ruse.  Minor  attacks  were  made  all  along  the  line  of  the 
15th  Corps,  but  the  main  effort  was  to  be  made  against 
General  Dodge's  command.  Bates'  Division  of  Hardee's 
Corps  was  hurled  against  Sweeney's  Division,  which,  at 


102  HISTORY  OF  THE 

that  time,  presented  a  front  of  two  regiments  and  one  por 
tion  of  a  battery.  The  immortal  2d  Iowa,  and  the  younger, 
but  not  less  gallant,  66th  Indiana,  with  two  sections  of 
Captain  Welker's  Battery,  (H,  1st  Missouri  Light  Artil 
lery,)  met  the  shock  of  the  charge.  Fierce  and  hot  was 
the  contest — brave  men  were  pitted  against  brave — but  it 
was  impossible  to  advance  before  the  withering  fire  of  that 
gallant  line  of  Colonel  Rice's  brigade.  In  half  an  hour 
from  the  time  the  first  volley  was  fired,  the  shout  of  vic 
tory  rang  on  the  evening  air,  and  was  taken  up  by  regi 
ment  after  regiment,  until  the  woods  was  vocal  with  re 
joicings.  So  determined  were  the  rebels  in  the  assaulting 
columns,  that  several  actually  forced  themselves  over  our 
works,  where  they  were  at  once  captured.  The  Kentucky 
troops  formed  a  part  of  the  assaulting  column.  The  loss 
of  the  66th  Illinois  and  the  2d  Iowa  was  very  slight,  but 
sixty-three  dead  rebels  were  counted  in  our  front  the  next 
day. 

On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  Colonel  Mersey's  brigade 
relieved  Colonel  Rice's,  and  the  81st  Ohio  had  a  taste  of 
what  it  was  to  man  those  works.  Company  B  was  sent 
out  on  the  skirmish  line,  and  private  James  Anderson,  of 
Company  D,  being  desirous  to  have  an  adventure,  volun 
teered  to  go  also.  He  was  permitted  to  go,  but  in  an  hour 
his  dead  body  was  borne  back.  All  day  the  heavy  skir 
mishing  was  kept  up.  The  lines  were  so  close  that  the 
troops  behind  the  works  were  compelled  to  keep  down,  or 
have  a  rebel  bullet  in  unpleasant  proximity  to  their  ears. 
Indeed  the  balls  went  as  far  back  as  the  headquarters  of 
Generals  Dodge  and  Sweeney. 

It  appears  that  General  McPherson  had  marched  too 
rapidly,  and  had  got  too  far  to  the  right,  in  taking  this 
position  at  Dallas,  and  it  was  necessary  to  draw  him  far 
ther  to  the  left,  so  as  to  join  more  closely  to  the  rest  of  the 
army.  Orders  had  been  issued  on  the  28th  of  May  for 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO   INFANTRY  VOLS.  103 

him  to  withdraw  a  few  miles  toward  his  left,  but  this  at 
tack  by  the  enemy  caused  the  order  to  be  countermanded. 
It  was  again  issued  on  the  29th.  All  the  teams  had  moved 
during  the  afternoon  and  evening,  (except  advance  wagons) 
and,  at  dark,  the  reserve  artillery  began  moving.  After 
it  the  artillery  and  infantry  from  the  extreme  right  were 
to  silently  move  off,  continuing  the  movement  toward  the 
left,  only  leaving  the  skirmish  line  on  duty,  which  was  to 
follow  at  day-light. 

The  movement  was  in  progress.  The  loud  rattle  of  the 
rtillery  certainly  could  be  heard  in  the  rebel  camps  on 
that  clear  still  night.  At  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night, 
when  some  of  us  were  listening  to  the  dull  booming  of 
Hooker's  cannon,  away  to  the  left,  the  bright  flash  of  a 
musket  to  the  right,  and  in  front  of  our  line,  told  of  ap 
proaching  danger.  Almost  instantly  the  whole  picket  line, 
in  front  of  Mersey's  brigade,  was  ablaze  and  retiring. 
The  sound  of  their  guns  awakened  the  men  who  were 
sleeping  in  the  trenches.  Scarcely  had  the  retiring  pickets 
reached  the  works  until  every  man  in  the  long  sinuous 
line,  which  a  moment  before  seemed  wrapped  in  slumber, 
was  up  to  his  place.  "  What  is  it?"  was  hurriedly  asked, 
as  the  pickets  clambered  over  the  works.  "  The  enemy— 
a  charge  I1'  was  the  whispered  reply,  and  in  an  instant  the 
81st  Ohio  and  the  12th  Illinois  poured  a  volley  of  death 
into  the  advancing  column.  An  irregular  line  of  flashes 
among  the  trees,  and  a  legion  of  mad  bullets  whizzing 
over  our  heads,  was  the  reply.  A  section  of  Welker's 
battery,  on  the  left  of  the  81st  Ohio,  now  lit  up  the 
whole  scene  with  its  vivid  breath  of  flame,  while  its 
reports  shook  the  earth.  It  was  such  a  scene  as  few  of 
us  will  ever  see  again.  The  firing  of  the  infantry  became 
constant,  but  irregular,  after  the  first  volley,  while  to  its 
timid  and  sinuous  line  of  light  was  added,  every  moment, 
the  glare  of  one  or  more  of  Welker's  guns,  which  seemed 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE 

to  be  discharging  their  death  missiles  without  cessation. 
That  grand  old  forest  at  the  romantic  hour  of  midnight, 
never  before  resounded  to  such  unearthly  din.  The  sul 
phurous  smoke  from  the  guns  seemed  to  hang  about  the 
earth,  so  that  the  darkness  was  changed  to  gray,  in  which 
the  dark  figures  of  the  men  became  visible — a  sort  of 
demon-looking  set,  engaged  in  a  ghastly  play  with  death  ! 
There  was  too  much  of  death  in  it  to  be  long  continued  by 
the  rebels,  and  they  fell  back — exactly  when,  we  could  not 
tell,  for  once  started,  some  of  the  boys  could  not  be  induced 
to  cease  firing.  However,  there  was  a  silence  at  last,  but 
of  brief  duration,  for  on  our  right  was  a  clash  and  clatter 
heard,  where  the  rebels  assayed  to  break  the  lines  of  the 
15th  Corps.  Maddened,  as  it  were,  they  again  burst  upon 
Mersey's  line,  to  be  again  driven  back.  Again,  and  again, 
at  different  points,  they  made  efforts,  until  by  three  A.  M., 
there  had  been  seven  distinct  assaults  upon  our  lines. 

The  loss  was  mostly  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  they  hav 
ing  all  the  disadvantage  of  making  the  attack  at  a  time 
when  it  was  impossible  to  see  their  object,  or  to  keep  their 
troops  in  order.  The  testimony  of  a  rebel  prisoner,  cap 
tured  a  day  or  two  afterward,  was,  that  Bates' Division 
was  cut  to  pieces  in  that  attack,  which,  he  said,  was  made 
by  a  misunderstanding  of  orders. 

During  the  course  of  the  first  firing,  some  of  the  more 
excitable  men  managed  to  lose  in  part,  and  shoot  away  in 
part,  their  ammunition,  until,  in  five  or  ten  minutes,  their 
cartridge-boxes  were  exhausted,  and  they  began  to  call 
lustily  for  ammunition.  Unfortunately,  in  consequence  of 
the  movement  which  was  in  progress,  almost  all  the  am 
munition  wagons  were  gone,  and  quite  all  were  gone  from 
the  front  line.  In  this  emergency  red  tape  was  cut  effect 
ually.  Failing  to  find  the  proper  ordnance  officer,  in  the 
melee,  which  would  have  been  almost  impossible,  General 
Dodge  hailed  the  first  wagons  he  saw  containing  ordnance, 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO   INFANTRY  VOLS.  105 

only  satisfying  himself  that  they  contained  the  proper 
caliber,  and,  although  they  belonged  to  another  Corps,  ho 
ordered  them  unloaded  at  once.  Seizing  a  box  of  canister 
himself,  and  placing  it  before  him  on  his  horse,  the  Gen 
eral  started  to  the  front,  and  in  this  useful  style  presented 
himself  to  the  astonished  gunners  of  Welker's  battery. 
By  the  efforts  of  staff  officers,  a  full  supply  of  ammunition 
was  soon,  almost  miraculously  at  hand,  and  all  apprehen 
sions  on  this  score  were  set  at  rest. 

From  three  o'clock  we  had  undisturbed  rest,  and  some 
time  before  noon  of  the  30th,  the  81st  and  12th  were  re 
lieved,  and  allowed  to  enjoy  a  slight  respite  at  a  point  in 
the  safe  distance.  So,  sleeping  and  resting,  the  remainder 
of  the  30th  was  spent,  while  the  proposed  movement  was 
held  in  abeyance,  and  the  rebels  were  non-plussed  by  our 
unbroken  front.  Their  attack  on  the  night  of  the  29th 
had  evidently  been  made  with  a  view  to  pierce  our  lines 
while  we  were  moving,  and,  taking  advantage  of  the  con 
fusion  which  they  supposed  would  follow,  they  hoped  to 
do  us  much  mischief.  The  only  fault  was,  that  their  at 
tack  was  made  too  soon.  An  hour  or  two  later,  we  might 
have  been  in  motion,  and  the  result  might  have  been  quite 
different.  As  it  was,  General  McPherson  found  it  no  easy 
matter  to  let  go  his  hold  on  the  rebel  tiger  which  he  had 
so  easily  caught.  Still  he  was  patient.  All  day  of  the 
30th  his  lines  doggedly  held  their  ground. 

The  31st  of  May  was  a  repetition  of  the  30th,  except  that 
little  demonstrations  were  made,  here  and  there,  against  the 
enemy,  for  effect.  One  of  these  occurred  in  General  Swee 
ney's  Division.  That  officer  was  ordered  by  General  Dodge 
to  make  a  reconnoisance  in  his  front,  to  ascertain  if  the  en 
emy  was  still  in  force  there ;  but  he  was  in  no  wise  to 
make  an  assault,  as  he  would  be  unsupported  by  either  the 
forces  on  his  right  or  left.  But,  being,  perhaps,  ambitious 
to  do  something  brilliant,  General  Sweeney  ordered  Col- 
9 


10G  HISTORY  OF  THE 

onel  Mersey  to  take  his  Brigade  and  make  an  assault  on 
the  enemy's  works.  The  order  was  obeyed,  and  partly 
carried  out,  when- General  Dodge  arrived  on  the  field  and 
ordered  the  Brigade  withdrawn.  The  66th  Illinois,  in  this 
movement,  formed  the  skirmish  line,  and  lost  a  number  in 
killed  and  wounded.  By  good  luck,  the  81st  Ohio  met 
with  no  loss,  although  it  crossed  the  works  in  line  of  battle. 
Even  if  the  assault  had  been  made,  and  had  been  success 
ful,  there  was  not  the  least  good  that  could  have  accrued 
from  it,  for  of  what  avail  would  it  have  been  to  break  a 
few  hundred  yards  of  a  line,  miles  in  length,  by  a  little 
detached  force,  acting  without  the  co-operation,  or  even 
the  knowledge,  of  the  rest  of  the  army.  It  would  have 
been  but  an  empty  honor  at  the  best. 

That  night  the  regiment,  with  the  rest  of  the  Brigade, 
received  inarching  orders  soon  after  dark,  and  moved, 
about  ten  o'clock,  toward  the  left.  It  was  nearly  daylight 
when  the  wearied  troops  arrived  at  their  destination,  and 
found  that  the  Brigade  was  to  relieve  a  portion  of  General 
Davis'  Division,  which  had  already  vacated  the  works  and 
moved  farther  to  the  left,  to  join  the  rest  of  the  Corps.  The 
12th  Illinois  was  sent  out  to  the  picket  line,  said  to  be  a 
mile  distant,  while  the  81st  Ohio,  and  the  66th  Illinois 
were  thinly  scattered  along  a  long  line  of  earthworks.  It 
was  no  permanent  occupation,  but  was  only  done  to  make 
a  show  of  front,  while  the  rest  of  McPherson's  command 
was  moved  further  to  the  left.  Foiled  in  all  his  previous 
attempts  at  withdrawal,  he  attempted  it  again  on  the  night 
of  the  31st  of  May,  and,  by  good  fortune,  succeeded  in 
making  the  movement,  unmolested,  during  the  night.  It 
was  nearly  noon  before  the  rebels  discovered  the  move 
ment,  and  entered  the  town  of  Dallas,  which  had  been 
in  rear  of  our  lines.  At  this  time,  Colonel  Mersey's  Bri 
gade,  stretched  out  thus  in  single  file,  was  the  extreme 
right  of  our  army — the  rest  having  moved  to  the  new  po- 


EIGHTY- FIRST   OHIO   INFANTRY    VOLS.  107 

sition  assigned,  some  two  or  three  miles  from  that  recently 
occupied.  With  no  cavalry  to  watch  his  flank  and  rear, 
Colonel  Mersey  quietly  awaited  orders  for  his  own  with 
drawal,  while,  without  his  knowledge,  the  rebel  cavalry 
were  advancing  through  Dallas,  and  down  in  his  rear.  At 
the  same  time,  the  enemy's  infantry  could  be  seen,  feeling 
its  way  toward  his  flank,  and  pressing  on  toward  his  front. 
The  first  intimation  he  had  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy 
in  his  rear,  was  given  in  the  report  of  carbines  at  a  very 
short  distance.  Sending  out  an  additional  short  line  of 
skirmishers  on  the  right  flank,  which  soon  became  warmly 
engaged  with  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  Colonel  Mersey 
bent  back  his  right,  until  what  remained  of  the  66th  Illi 
nois,  and  81st  Ohio  formed  a  line  of  battle,  facing  toward 
nearly  all  the  points  of  the  compass.  The  Colonel  knew 
now  that  he  was  entirely  isolated  from  the  army,  and  that  he 
was  almost  entirely  surrounded,  but  he  determined  to  stay 
there  and  fight  it  out,  until  he  should  receive  orders  to 
withdraw,  or  be  defeated  and  captured.  At  last,  when  his 
little  handful  of  men  seemed  just  on  the  point  of  being 
transformed  into  a  mouthful  for  the  delectation  of  the 
Confederate  maw,  the  order  to  withdraw  came,  and  march 
ing  the  12th  Illinois  as  skirmishers  on  his  (now)  right,  he 
dextrously  withdrew  his  little  command  without  loss,  and 
received  the  congratulations  of  his  superior  officers. 

Before  nightfall,  the  entire  command  of  General  McPher- 
son  had  built  substantial  earthworks,  and  rested  from  their 
labors,  out  of  hearing  of  the  incessant  sound  of  the  skir 
misher's  gun.  The. next  day  or  two  was  spent  in  strength 
ening  our  works,  and  in  rest.  The  enemy  seemed  non 
plussed.  We  could  see  evident  signs  of  a  hurried  move 
ment  toward  their  right.  This  movement  of  General  Mc- 
Pherson's  army  betokened  some  danger  in  that  direction 

General  Sherman  had,  by  moving  to  this  position  at  Dal 
las,  already  drawn  most  of  the  enemy  away  from  the  rail- 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE 

road  and  the  strong  position  at  Allatoona.  It  only  re 
mained  for  him  to  quietly  march  his  army  back  to  that 
point,  and  possess  it.  This  was  the  next  movement.  On 
the  5th  and  6th  of  June,  the  march  to  Acworth  on  the 
railroad,  several  miles  south  of  Allatoona,  was  made. 
Here,  the  main  portion  of  the  army  had  another  rest  of 
several  days,  during  which  McPherson's  command  was  re 
inforced  by  the  arrival  of  the  17th  Corps.  While  a  show 
of  attack  was  kept  up,  Sherman  rested  his  army,  and  re 
building  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Etowah  River,  soon 
had  the  "  cracker  line,"  as  the  soldiers  familiarly  called  it? 
re-established.  Clothing  and  abundant  supplies  were  is 
sued,  and  on  the  10th  of  June  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
moved  down  the  railroad  as  far  as  Big  Shanty. 

Here  we  came  in  sight  of  the  inevitable  enemy  again, 
intrenched,  in  front  of  Kennesaw  Mountain.  From  the 
10th  till  the  15th  of  June,  the  81st  did  nothing  but  lie  in 
bivouac.  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  engaged  in  this 
time  in  slowly  forming  its  line  closer  and  closer  upon  the 
enemy's  works.  It  now  formed  the  extreme  left  of  the 
whole  army.  The  wet  weather  made  approaches  difficult, 
but  on  the  15th  the  lines  were  advanced  about  two  miles 
south  of  Big  Shanty,  and  the  rebel  works,  built  about  a 
mile  in  front  of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  were  close  in  the 
Union  front.  During  this  approach,  and  after  its  comple 
tion,  there  was  a  repetition  of  the  same  endless  skirmish 
firing,  which  had  been  the  rule  at  Dallas,  varied,  occasion 
ally,  by  a  heavy  cannonade,  and,  now  and  then,  a  short, 
sharp  contest,  where  volleys  of  musketry  told  of  a  little 
charge. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  109 


CHAPTER  XL 

ATLANTA     CAMPAIGN — FROM     BIG     SHANTY     TO      KENNESAW 
MOUNTAIN. 

Kennesaw  Mountain,  though  a  detached,  abrupt  eleva 
tion,  of  not  more  than  a  half  mile  in  length,  and  appa 
rently  indefensible,  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  formida 
ble  natural  barriers  we  had  to  contend  with.  It  was  suffi 
ciently  near  to  Lost  Mountain  to  make  it  possible,  with 
the  large  army  the  rebels  had,  to  continue  the  line  across 
the  low  country  between,  and  thus  take  advantage  of  both 
elevations.  While  Kennesaw  formed  the  rebel  right,  Lost 
Mountain  formed  the  left.  The  chief  advantage  gained 
by  the  possession  of  Kennesaw  was  not  so  much  on  ac 
count  of  its  inapproachable,  perpendicular  sides,  but  by 
its  being  the  best  watch-tower  ever  possessed  by  an  army. 
Before  the  eye  of  the  rebel  signal  officer,  on  the  highest 
point  of  Kennesaw,  Sherman's  army  lay  fully  exposed. 
Not  a  movement  of  a  regiment  in  daj^light  that  could  not 
be  detected  and  due  notice  given.  And,  if  changes  were 
made  during  the  cover  of  darkness,  the  succeeding  day 
discovered  them  all  to  that  all-seeing  eye. 

The  rebel  line,  as  before  stated,  was  first  fixed  about  a 
mile  in  front  of  Kennesaw,  on  some  high  grounds  that  ran 
along  parallel  with  that  mountain.  On  the  15th,  the  81st 
Ohio  moved  out  of  bivouac,  for  the  purpose  of  supporting 
a  portion  of  the  Corps  which  was  making  an  advance. 
The  regiment  did  not,  however,  go  into  action.  The  move 
ment  of  the  day  resulted  successfully  to  the  Union  army — 
a  large  number  of  prisoners  being  captured.  General 
Veatch's  Division,  in  this  movement,  formed  the  advance 
of  the  16th  Corps,  Colonel  Sprague's  Brigade  forming  the 


110  HISTORY  OF  THE 

advance  of  the  Division.     Their  skirmishers,  on  the  15th, 
were  obliged  to  move  through  an  open  field  on  the  enemy's 
works.     I  say  works,  because  the  rebel  skirmishers  had 
made  quite  strong  defenses,   by  throwing  together,  with 
close  intervals,  piles  of  rails,  and  covering  them  with  earth. 
During  the  night  following  this  advance,  our  pioneers 
and  pickets  worked  almost  together.     The  pioneers,  with 
pick  and  shovel,  silently  throwing  out  the  loose  red  earth, 
to  form  defenses,  while  the  pickets  protected  them  in  their 
labor.     The  supporting  lines  also  threw  up  earthworks  in 
the  rear,  close  behind  the  advanced  lines.     An  almost  level 
valley,  half  a  mile  in  width,  and  extending  indefinitely  in 
length,  contained  all  of  the  15th  and  16th  Corps.     On  the 
southern  side  of  the  valley,  just   on  the   border   of  the 
woods,  in  plain  view  of  all  the   supporting  troops,  our 
picket  line  was  established.     In  the  morning  our  pickets 
discovered  the  rebel  picket  line  intrenched  from  fifty  to 
two  hundred  yards  in   their  front.     In  this  position  our 
lines  remained  until  the  19th  of  June.    All  day  the  pickets' 
guns  were  continually  popping,   the  artillery  was  trying 
its  power,  while  the  reserves  were  kept  closely  to  arms, 
ready  for  any  emergency.     The  rebels  were  exceedingly 
careful  of  their  artillery  ammunition.     It  was 'even  amus 
ing,  tragical  as  it  must  have  been,  to  witness  the  firing  of 
the  rebel  artillery,  and   our  own.     There  were  one  or  two 
rebel  batteries  situated  on  a  bluff  bank,  in  front  of  the 
15th  Corps,  and  in  plain  view  of  the  81st  Ohio.     Now  acd 
then  we  could  see  the  curling,  white  smoke  from  one  of 
their  guns,   and  could   hear  the  hearty  cheer  with  which 
Logan's  war-worn   heroes  greeted  the  sound  of  the  rebel 
shell,  flying  over  their  heads.     Our  own  artillery  was  gen 
erally  silent  until  the  rebels  had  ventured  two  or  three  shots, 
and  then,  having  thrown  them  off  their  guard  somewhat, 
a  whole  battery  of  Logan's  Parrotts  would  hurl  its  hissing 
shell  plump  into  the  rebel  battery,  effectually  silencing 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANilll  YOLS.  Ill 

them  for  the  next  hour  or  more.  On  our  right,  in  front 
of  the  14th  Corps,  during  these  days,  there  was  a  very 
lively  cannonading,  out  of  our  sight,  but  in  hearing.  One 
battery  in  that  Corps,  which  we  only  knew  by  the  sobri 
quet  of  u  old  leather  breeches,"  used  to  bring  a  cheer  from 
the  whole  Union  line  by  its  odd  mode  of  firing.  All  its 
guns  were  charged  at  once,  and  each  one  was  properly 
sighted,  and  then,  at  a  given  signal,  they  were  discharged 
so  nearly  together  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  tell 
whether  it  was  the  report  of  one  great  gun  or  six  ordinary 
ones. 

While  the  armies  lay  in  this  position  there  was  but  little 
opportunity  for  any  thing  like  rest,  even  to  those  not  im 
mediately  in  the  front,  or  on  duty.  The  reserves  were  so 
near  the  enemy's  skirmish  line,  that  frequently  their  balls 
fell  behind  our  defenses,  and  the  only  safety  was  in  lying 
close  behind  the  works.  Even  then,  it  was  almost  impos 
sible  to  get  a  whole  night's  rest,  for,  every  few  hours,  a 
violent  skirmish  firing  somewhere  along  the  line,  would 
suggest  another  night  attack,  and,  without  waiting  for  the 
formality  of  a  command,  the  whole  line  of  reserves  would 
tumble  out  of  their  bivouac  beds,  and,  fully  armed  and 
equipped,  would  almost  intuitively  take  their  places  at  the 
works,  and  wait  until  the  excitement  subsided.  [N^or  could 
they  ever  become  so  accustomed  to  these  little  half  alarms, 
BO  as  to  become  careless.  Semper  iiaratus  was  the  practical 
watchword  of  each  soldier. 

The  men  were  virtually  imprisoned  behind  their  own 
defenses,  and  the  only  relief  which  they  had  was  at  night, 
when  a  new  "  relief"  went  on  duty,  and  were  disposed  to 
make  their  night's  work  as  agreeable  as  possible.  This 
was  done  by  some  one  calling  out — "  Say,  Johnny  reb., 
don't  you  want  to  rest  awhile?  We'll  not  shoot  if  you 
wont."  The  terms  were  usually  gladly  accepted,  and  a 
temporary  truce  was  thus  established.  The  fact  that  these 


112  HISTORY  OF  THE 

arrangements  were  always  made  by  the  men,  and  not  by  the 
ofiicers,  made  it  certain  that  no  advantage  would  be  taken 
to  change  position,  or  any  thing  of  that  kind,  during  the 
continuance  of  the  truce.     The  truth  was,  that  both  armies 
were  so  tired  out  by  the  continual  excitement  of  alarms, 
that  men  were  willing  to  get  what  rest  they  could  in  any 
Avay.     After  a   few   moments   of  quiet,   natural   inquisi- 
tivcness,  or  a  love  of  adventure,  would  lead  some  one  to 
propound  some  question  to  the  opposite  party,  in  general. 
Whoever  could  first  answer,  or  whoever  chose,  could  be 
the  spokesman  of  his  side.     In  this  way  amusing  conver 
sations  were  often   carried  on.   always  in  the  best  spirit. 
One  night,  in  front  of  the  15th  Corps,  during  one  of  these 
truces,  a  general  conversation  had  taken  place,  and  the 
men  of  both  sides  had  advanced  in  front  of  their  respec 
tive  lines,  disarmed,  of  course,  until  they  were  nearly  to 
gether.     Attracted  by  the  novelty  of  the  sight,  great  num 
bers  of  troops  from  the  main  line  had  also  gone  out  to  see 
tho  fun.     Some  one  of  the  rebels  asked  for  a  song,  and  a 
choir  of  singers  among  our  soldiers  responded  in  clear, 
manly  tones,  under  the  soft  moonlight,  with  the  suggestive 
air   of    "  Just   before   the   battle,   Mother."      When  this 
was  ended,  the  rebels  cheered  heartily  in  applause,  and 
declared  that  the  new  song  was  an  excellent  one.     They 
then    returned   the  compliment   by  singing  one  for   us, 
which  our  boys,  in  turn   applauded.     Then  a  proposition 
to  exchange  papers  was  made,  and  was  carried  into  effect, 
but  just  as  the  parties  who  had  met  half  way,  had  separ 
ated,  some  one,  rebel  or  Union,  we  could  not  tell,  who  was 
away  to  the  right,  and  who  knew  nothing  of  the  arrange 
ment,  fired.     Instantly,  at  the  same  place,  a  picket  volley 
answered,  and  the  trucers,  each  supposing  that  the  oppo 
site  party  was  getting  treacherous,  took  to  their  heels  and 
gained  their  respective  works,   inwardly  execrating  the 
wretch  who  broke  the  truce  by  firing  the  unlucky  shot. 


EIGHTY -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  113 

True  to  their  word,  not  a  shot  was  fired  along  the  neutral 
portion  of  the  line  until  every  man  of  both  sides  had  got 
safely  behind  the  defenses.  But  then,  the  men  who,  but  a 
minute  before,  had  engaged  in  friendly  conversation  and 
song,  began  their  work  of  death  again  ;  threw  off  the 
white  robe  of  Peace,  and  assumed  the  red  mantle  of  War. 
This  was  the  history  of  almost  every  night  of  these  four 
or  five  days,  of  what  may  be  characterized  as  the  siege  of 
the  approaches  to  Kennesaw  Mountain.  The  81st  Ohio 
took  but  a  passive  part,  until  midnight  of  the  16th,  wrhen 
it  moved  to  the  support  of  Colonel  Sprague's  Brigade, 
whose  widening  front  left  it  bare  of  reserves.  Although 
the  distance  to  march  that  night  was  scarcely  more  than 
a  mile,  yet  the  remainder  of  the  night  was  spent  on  the 
way,  through  some  blunder  of  somebody — that  mysterious 
person  who  never  can  be  named  or  known  in  military  af 
fairs.  The  next  day  one  battalion  of  the  regiment  moved 
to  the  front,  and  built  intrenchments  near  where  the  rail 
road  passed  through  our  lines.  That  portion  of  the  regi 
ment  remained  there  until  the  19th.  Before  daylight  of  the 
19th,  the  remaining  battalion  went  out  on  duty  on  the  picket 
line  in  front  of  Colonel  Sprague's  Brigade.  The  relieving 
was  done  with  the  utmost  care,  as  the  rebel  line  was  but  a 
hundred  yards  or  so  in  front  of  the  Union  intrenchments, 
and  to  expose  the  person  above  theworks,was  to  devote  that 
soldier  to  almost  certain  death.  As  daylight  came  on,  the 
rebel  skirmish  tire  seemed  to  be  wanting.  Was  it  a  cruel  ruse 
to  get  our  men  to  raise  their  heads  and  receive  a  fatal  shot? 
Yankee  inquisitiveness  was  not  to  be  suppressed  by  this 
possibility.  Here  and  there  some  soldier  ventured  toward 
the  rebel  defenses,  and  found  them  deserted.  It  took  an 
hour  or  two  to  report  this  fact,  and  receive  orders,  but  at 
the  end  of  that  time  the  whole  skirmish  line  advanced 
cautiously.  General  Sherman,  with  his  usual  nervous  style, 
telegraphed  the  "War  Department  that  the  rebels  had  re- 


114  HISTORY    OF   TIIE 

treated,  and  lie  was  going  to  start  in  a  few  minutes  for 
Marietta.  It  is  said  that  he  gave  orders  for  one  or  two 
trains  to  move  into  Marietta. 

The  skirmishers  of  the  16th  Corps,  resting  their  right 
on  the  railroad,  advanced.  After  passing  the  enemy's 
works  there  was,  in  front,  an  almost  unbroken  forest. 
Passing  through  this  in  a  heavy  rain,  now  halting,  now 
going  to  the  left,  now  to  the  right,  now  forward,  never 
certain  where  we  were  going,  or  when  we  would  stop,  it 
was  a  positive  relief  when,  at  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  the  rattling  of  Confederate  bullets  among  the 
trees  over  our  heads,  told  that  the  enemy  had  not  gone 
entirely  away.  The  skirmish  line  having  orders  to  move 
on  until  the  enemy  was  found,  now  halted,  literally  at  the 
base  of  Kennesaw  Mountain.  General  Sherman,  discov 
ered  now  that  the  way  to  Marietta  lay  over  that  moun 
tain.  In  the  evening,  soon  after  we  had  found  the  enemy, 
a  locomotive  was  sent  forward  to  see  how  far  it  could  pro 
ceed.  It  <;ame  to  a  building  which  was  well  supplied  with 
wood,  all  ready  for  use,  wooded  up,  and,  finding  it  was  al 
most  up  with  our  skirmish  line,  concluded  to  retire.  Ut 
tering  a  shrill  whistle  as  it  started,  it  was  discovered  by 
the  rebels,  and,  bang !  bang  !  went  two  pieces  of  artillery 
from  the  summit  of  Kennesaw,  after  the  retreating  epgino, 
The  engineer  made  excellent  time  to  the  rear,  escaping 
unhurt,  but  determining  to  find  wood  elsewhere  after  that 
treatment. 

The  rebels  had  made  the  summit  of  the  mountain  their 
new  line,  and  had  planted  several  pieces  of  artillery  there. 
Large  details  were  also  at  work  on  the  mountain  side  near 
the  top,  apparently  making  rifle  pits  there.  Those  of  us 
who  waded  through  that  day's  varying  skirmishing  ex 
perience,  in  the  woods  and  rain,  had  anything  but  a  com 
fortable  prospect  for  the  night,  as  we  watched  those  dirty 
men  almost  directly  above  us,  and  imagined  that  we  could 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  115 

see  them  engaged  in  the  amiable  business  of  detaching 
huge  rocks,  which,  in  the  stillness  of  the  night,  they  would 
send  whirling  down  on  our  devoted  heads !  It  was  some 
thing  of  a  compensation,  and  was  even  a  sublime  pleasure, 
to  see,  as  we  did,  the  hasty  dropping  of  tools,  on  the  part 
of  these  piously  intentioned  rebels,  and  hurried  rushing 
behind  trees  and  rocks,  as  one  of  our  whizzing  shells,  from 
a  battery  far  in  our  rear,  would  burst  among  the  rocks 
and  crags  of  the  mountain.  We  heard  no  sweeter  music 
that  day.  than  the  dull  thud  of  that  battery,  and  the  sharp 
whistle  of  its  shells  flying  over  our  heads. 

Kennesaw  Mountain  !  What  soldier  who  saw  it  during 
these  days,  will  ever  forget  its  fiery -flaming  brow  ?  Into 
how  many  households  does  the  name  bring  the  gushing 
tears  of  sorrow  for  the  loved  one  whose  spark  of  life  went 
out  before  that  death-dealing  giant  of  Nature  ?  Kennesaw 
Mountain  held  Sherman's  army  at  bay  fourteen  days,  dur 
ing  which  the  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  greater  than 
at  any  previous  part  of  the  campaign.  Yery  fortunately, 
the  81st  Ohio,  though  almost  all  of  that  time  in  the  front 
line,  and  often  on  picket  duty,  yet  was  not  called  to  make 
an  assault  at  any  time.  On  the  27th,  a  portion  of  the  reg 
iment  went  out  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Adams,  in  sup 
port  of  a  charging  column  of  the  16th  Corps  ;  but  as  the 
grand  attack  along  the  whole  line  was  so  disastrously  re 
pulsed  that  day,  on  the  right,  and  the  physical  impossibil 
ity  of  proceeding  in  front  of  the  16th  Corps,  prevented 
any  serious  advance  in  that  part  of  the  line,  the  battalion 
met  with  no  loss. 


110  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN — FROM  KENNESAW  MOUNTAIN  TO  NEAR 
ATLANTA. 

Probably  never  before  did  so  large  a  number  of  specta 
tors  have  the  privilege  of  witnessing  so  grand  a  spectacle 
of  artillery  practice  as  occurred  while  we  lay  before  Ken- 
nesaw.     The  rebels  had  about  twelve  guns  on  the  left,  or 
western  part  of  the  mountain — three  or  four  more  near 
the  center,  and  half  a  dozen  at  the  right,  or  eastern  part. 
On  these  guns  the  Union  army  could  certainly  bring  to 
bear  fifty — perhaps  more,  for  there  were  at  least  the  17th, 
16th,  15th  and  14th  Corps  whose  guns  were  in  range.  The 
summit  of  Kennesaw  was  so  sharply  defined  against  the 
sky,  and  the  brow  so  shorn   of  trees,  that  every  man  who 
appeared  about  a  gun  could  be  seen  by  our  whole  line. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  rebels,  from  their  elevated  position, 
had  a  perfect   bird's-eye  view  of  our  entire  operations. 
Under  such  circumstances,  it  may  be  imagined  that  the 
artillery  combats  would  be  frequent  and  exciting.     For  the 
first  two  or  three  days  the  rebels  were  very  chary  of  their 
guns,  not  replying  sometimes  for  hours  to  our  almost  con 
stant  cannonade.     During  these  days  the}7  were  only  get 
ting  ready,    building  traverses   and  bomb-proofs  for  the 
safety  of  their  gunners.     They  also  made  their  works  for 
the  protection  of  their  guns,  as  perfect  as  possible.     On 
the  third  or  fourth  day,  however,   about  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  as   our  gunners   leisurely  began  their  cus 
tomary  popping,  the  whole  army  was  aroused  by  a  fast 
and  furious  cannonading  from  the  western  battery  on  Ken 
nesaw.     Hardly  was  the  first  volley  given  until  one  after 
another,  the  rebel  guns   in  quick  succession  belched  forth 
a  second  offering.     By  this  time  the  whole  army,  along 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  117 

McPherson's  lines,  was  in  line — not  to  fight — but  to  look. 
The  rebel  shell  and  shot  always  passed  over  the  infantry? 
which  was  too  close  to  the  mountain  to  allow  the  depres 
sion  of  the  guns  sufficiently  to  do  any  harm.  It  was, 
therefore,  perfectly  safe  to  stand  out  and  see  the  fight. 
And  so  vigorously  did  the  rebels  ply  their  guns,  that  our 
bewildered  artillerists  seemed  enchained  by  the  extraor 
dinary  sight,  and  were  very  slow  to  send  ba^k  an  answer 
ing  shot.  Perceiving  this,  the  rebels,  who  had  lain  closely 
behind  their  works,  began  to  boldly  come  out,  until,  be 
tween  the  eyes  of  our  soldiers  and  the  sky  beyond,  the 
dirty  figures  of  the  exultant  rebels  thickly  covered  the 
crest  of  the  mountain.  As  the  fight  progressed,  and  our 
guns  still  were  silent,  these  dirty  legions  sent  up  shout 
after  shout  of  defiance,  while  the  Union  soldiers  could 
only  look  silently  on,  and  wonder  why  our  batteries  were 
still.  At  last  our  gunners  seemed  to  recover  their  self- 
possession,  and  the  first  shell  thrown  fell  close  to  a  rebel 
gun,  but  not  until  the  swarming  line  of  rebel  heads  which 
"  had  marked  its  coming,"  but  did  not  "  grow  brighter 
when  it  came,"  had  securely  hid  themselves  behind  their 
fortifications.  Then,  as  thick  and  fast  fell  the  well-aimed 
shells  from  our  batteries,  among  the  smoke  and  flash  of 
the  rebel  guns,  it  was  our  time  to  cheer.  Growing  excited 
in  the  contest,  every  gun  of  ours  that  could  reach  the  rebel 
line,  and  many  that  could  not,  opened  upon  them.  The 
rebels  held  out  manfully  for  awhile,  but  as  one  after  an 
other  of  our  batteries  opened  on  them,  in  front  and  flank, 
they  were  at  last  compelled  to  lie  still,  or  only  fire  when  a 
lull  of  a  minute  gave  them  opportunity.  It  was  a  grand 
scene.  The  Union  troops  could  distinctly  see  the  rebel 
guns  fire,  and  could  hear  the  flight  of  their  shell,  and  their 
angry  bursting  far  overhead,  but  could  not  see  the  effect 
of  any  that  fell  among  our  batteries,  they  being  mostly  in 
rear  of  the  infantry  lines.  But  with  glasses,  and  even 


118  HISTORY  OF  THE 

with  the  naked  eye,  they  could  see  where  our  shell  burst, 
and  where  the  solid  shot  tore  up  the  earth  and  threw  the 
dust  about  the  rebel  works.  Every  good  shot  was  vehe 
mently  cheered,  and  the  artillery  practice  became  a  regu 
lar  source  of  amusement. 

The  27th  of  June  was  a  bloody  day  before  Kcnnesaw, 
although,  as  before  stated,  not  much  was  done  in  front  of 
the  16th  Corps.  It  was  at  the  close  of  this  exciting  day, 
when,  at  a  battery  whose  guns  had  just  ceased  their  boom 
ing  and  roaring  at  the  mountain,  there  arose  in  sweetest 
melody  the  sound  of  music.  It  was  a  quartette  of  male 
voices,  and  the  song  was — "  We'll  be  gay  and  happy  still." 
Yery  fitting,  it  seemed  to  be,  to  hear  under  those  guns, 
the  ringing  chorus — 

"  Then  let  the  cannon  boom  as  they  will, 
"We'll  be  gay  and  happy  still  1" 

The  singers  were  adepts.  Their  voices  were  clear  and 
strong,  the  evening  air  was  calm  and  still,  and  as  the 
sound  of  their  song  floated  over  the  neighboring  camps, 
the  weary  soldiers  crept  instinctively  toward  the  singers, 
to  luxuriate  in  the  harmony  of  "  sweet  song."  The  singers 
had  no  grand  house  made  Avith  hands,  where,  amid  the 
glare  of  gas-light,  giving  back  the  flash  of  costly  diamonds, 
and  the  more  potent  sparkling  of  beauty's  witching  eyes, 
the  listeners  could  languish  in  luxurious  ease.  But  such 
an  audience  never  experienced  rarer  or  truer  delight  than 
did  these  soldiers,  stretched  on  the  bare  earth,  beneath  the 
green  roof  of  "  God's  first  temples,"  and  listening  to  the  fa 
miliar  airs  of  "  Vacant  chair,"  and  ''  Home  again  ;"  while, 
in  fancy,  they  heard,  far  away,  the  same  songs  sung  in 
softer  tones,  as  they  used  to  delight  to  hear  them,  when 
home  was  not  a  myth.  Far  into  the  night  the  "  concert  " 
continued,  while  the  sharp  staccato  of  the  skirmisher's 
rifle  on  the  mountain  side,  bore  a  suggestive  accompani 
ment. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  YOLS.  119 

After  the  disastrous  termination  of  the  assault  on  the 
27th  of  June,  General  Sherman,  seeing  that  the  position 
could  not  be  stormed  without  too  great  loss  of  life,  set  his 
brain  to  work  to  devise  other  means.  As  usual,  he  de 
cided  on  another  flanking  expedition,  and,  as  usual,  also, 
he  appointed  the  gallant  McPherson  to  lead  the  way.  The 
maturing  of  his  plan,  and  the  preparation  for  its  execu 
tion,  occupied  several  days.  On  the  2d  of  July,  the  move 
ment  of  wagon  trains  of  McPherson's  command,  away  to 
the  right,  was  completed,  and  that  night  the  left  of  the 
army  withdrew  and  began  its  movement  in  the  same  di 
rection.  The  17th  Corps  moved  first — the  16th  following. 
The  night  was  extremely  dark,  and  a  number  of  mistakes 
occurred  to  cause  portions  of  the  column  to  take  the  wrong 
roads,  and  thus  delay  the  movement,  so  that  just  before 
daylight  the  81st  Ohio  went  into  bivouac,  scarcely  two 
miles  from  where  it  started.  From  a  brief  sleep  the  sol 
diers  were  early  aroused  by  the  news  that  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  were  flying  on  Kennesaw  !  True  enough,  while 
we,  with  the  utmost  silence  and  secresy,  were  escaping 
from  the  rebels,  they  were  just  as  cautiously  running  away 
from  us.  They  did  not  entirely  leave  Marietta  until  after 
daylight,  when  a  train  of  cars  left  with  the  rails  from  a 
portion  of  the  railroad  track,  which  was  torn  up  to  pre 
vent  General  Sherman  from  riding  into  Marietta  in  triumph. 
Notwithstanding  the  evacuation  of  Kennesaw  and  Mari 
etta,  the  movement  of  McPherson's  army  was  continued, 
with  but  slight  modifications.  On  the  night  of  the  3d,  the 
16th  Corps  had  passed  beyond  the  positions  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  and  of  the  Ohio.  One  Brigade  (2d  of 
2d  Division)  crossing  Nickajack  Creek  at  Ruff's  Mills, 
relieved  a  Brigade  of  the  15th  Corps,  which,  during  the 
afternoon,  had  been  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  that 
place.  The  Brigade  did  not  reach  its  position  until  after 
dark,  and  then  throwing  out  skirmishers  a  short  distance 


120  HISTORY  OF  THE 

in  advance,  bivouacked  in  line  of  battle.  In  the  morning, 
the  4th  Division,  General  Veatch,  crossed  the  creek  and 
passed  out  a  short  distance  and  formed  in  line  of  battle. 
In  this  way  it  advanced,  until  it  found  the  enemy  strongly 
posted,  only  a  half  mile  or  so  from  where  Colonel  Mersey's 
Brigade  had  bivouacked  that  night.  The  Second  Division 
was  soon  ordered  up  to  take  position  on  the  right  of  the 
4th.  About  noon,  while  the  81st  Ohio  was  advancing 
toward  the  front,  passing  through  a  lane  in  rear  of  the 
line  of  the  4th  Division,  Lieutenant  Lockwood  received  a 
severe  wound  from  a  rebel  ball  striking  his  leg.  A  mem 
ber  of  Company  I,  about  the  same  time  had  a  hole  cut 
through  his  hat,  and  his  ear  grazed  by  another  ball.  It 
was  evident  that  we  were  again  coming  in  contact  with 
the  enemy  whom  we  had  hoped  to  not  see  again  on  this  side  of 
Mie  Chattahoochec.  Without  further  loss,  the  81st  Ohio 
formed  in  line  on  the  right  of  the  66th  Illinois,  which 
joined  the  39th  Ohio,  of  the  4th  Division.  The  12th 
Illinois  was  formed  close  in  rear,  in  reserve,  and  the  First 
Brigade  was  placed  still  further  on  the  right.  Earthworks 
were  immediately  thrown  up,  as,  by  this  time,  the  wagons 
containing  intrenching  tools  had  become  quite  as  favored 
as  Headquarters'  teams,  and  were  always  kept  close  at  the 
heels  of  each  Brigade.  It  was  not  long  after  noon,  and 
intensely  hot,  Avhcn  the  brave  boys  of  the  81st  Ohio  cele 
brated  the  Fourth  of  July  by  digging  vigorously  into 
the  red  soil  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  in  the  State  of 
Georgia.  They  had  a  picnic  dinner,  too,  in  the  woods, 
of  most  simple  and  frugal  kind.  Hard  tack  and  salt  pork 
with  coffee,  and  no  other  dessert,  formed  the  staples  of  the 
feast.  There  was  no  music;  but  the  burning  of  powder, 
and  the  big  noise  consequent,  was  more  extensive  than 
agreeable.  Neither  were  there  any  speeches  of  the  usual 
spread  eagle  character,  but  the  Flag  was  there,  and,  in  the 
soft  rustle  of  its  silken  folds,  as  it  floated  to  the  breeze  in 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  121 

that  Georgian  forest,  it  aroused  more  of  patriotism  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  were  proud  to  have  borne  it  thus  far 
in  honor,  than  would  have  been  awakened  by  a  hundred 
speeches.  And  so  we  worked  OD,  glad  that  we  were 
allowed  the  privilege  of  thus  celebrating  the  day,  though 
not  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  it  were  infinitely  easier  to 
celebrate  it  far  more  ostentatiously  and  grandly  away  up 
North,  out  of  hearing  of  war,  than  it  was  here. 

Soon  the  66th  Illinois  was  called  out  to  strengthen  the 
skirmish  line,  and  it  connected  with  the  skirmishers  of 
the  39th  Ohio.  About  three  o'clock,  all  things  were  ready 
for  a  charge  on  the  enemy's  works  !  It  was  to  be  made 
by  the  4th  Division — the  skirmishers  of  the  2d  Division 
to  co-operate.  In  front  of  the  latter,  at  but  a  short  dis 
tance,  the  enemy  had,  in  an  open  field,  a  strongly  in 
trenched  picket  line,  which  was  farther  protected  by  the 
felling  of  the  underbrush  at  the  edge  of  the  woods 
through  which  our  troops  must  pass  to  reach  the  works, 
in  such  a  manner  as,  to  delay  them  in  easy  range  of  the 
rebel  guns.  It  was  any  thing  but  a  desirable  piece  of 
work  with  which  to  close  a  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of 
July,  but  in  this  case  the  programme  had  to  be  strictly  fol 
lowed.  With  rare  gallantry,  the  39th  and  27th  Ohio 
regiments  moved  through  an  open  field,  resistlessly  on 
ward  against  the  enemy's  intrenched  line,  and,  of  course, 
took  it.  At  nearly  the  same  time  the  66th  Illinois  took 
up  the  shout,  and  springing  from  behind  their  cover, 
rushed  down  upon  the  enemy's  intrenc-hed  skirmish  line, 
and  took  it,  with  a  number  of  prisoners.  On  the  right  of 
the  66th,  the  2d  Iowa  captured  other  works  and  prisoners. 

It  was  now  nearly  sunset.  It  was  evident  that  the  rebels 
were  in  full  force,  and  as  we  had  gained  ground,  it  was 
thought  necessary  to  intrench,  in  order  to  hold  it.  Ac 
cordingly,  the  66th  Illinois  was  gathered  toward  the  left, 
and  the  12th  Illinois,  52d  Illinois  and  (Jfitli  Indiana  were 
10 


.'2'2  HISTORY  OF  THE 

placed  on  its  right,  and  set  to  work  at  converting  the 
rebel  works  into  solid  Union  intrenchments.  After  sun 
set  the  rebels  shelled  our  working  parties  pretty  severely, 
causing  some  injury.  About  one  o'clock  that  night,  an 
order  came  for  the  81st  Ohio  to  relieve  the  66th  Illinois, 
and  complete  the  work  it  had  begun.  From  their  beds  on 
the  hard  earth,  the  men  reluctantly  arose,  and,  in  the 
pitchy  darkness,  the  regiment  silently  started  toward  its 
destination,  moving  by  the  flank,  in  two  ranks.  It  was  a 
dense  woods  where  they  had  been  lying,  and  there  was  no 
path  to  follow.  Moving  along  the  sleeping  lines,  the  head 
of  the  column  at  last  crossed  the  earthworks,  and  found  a 
road  leading  tp  the  front.  On  this,  Colonel  A-dams  led 
his  command  to  their  destination,  and  was  just  about  to 
assign  the  different  companies  to  their  positions,  when  ho 
discovered  that  but  two  or  three  companies  were  present. 
Nobody  could  tell  where  the  others  were,  and  so  a  search 
was  instituted.  Going  back  toward  the  place  of  starting, 
be  met  the  rest  on  the  way.  The  night  was  so  dark,  and 
the  way  so  crooked,  that  there  had  been  a  gap  in  the  line 
before  the  regiment  crossed  the  works,  and  the  leader  of 
the  hindmost  battalion,  thus  fprmed,  lost  sight  of  his 
file  leader,  and  missed  his  way.  It  was  nearly  day 
light  when  the  regiment  got  into  position,  and  then  the 
poor  men,  exhausted  and  sleepy  as  they  were,  had  to  dig 
once  more,  to  complete  the  half  finished  works. 

When  daylight  came,  our  skirmishers  reported  po  enemy 
ii}  front.  The  rebels  had  again  fallen  back,  and  we  had 
the  ppor  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  while  we  were 
losing  sleep  and  digging  earth,  the  enemy  was  alsq 
losing  sleep,  but  instead  of  planning  to  attack  us,  as  we 
thought,  he  was  making  all  possible  speed  to  escape.  The 
regiment  rested  until  1  P.  M. — enjoying  in  the  meantime  as 
only  soldiers  can  enjoy,  the  luxury  of  a  full  mail  bringing 
letters  and  papers  from  homo.  By  sunset  the  81st  Ohio 


EIGHTY-FRIST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  123 

was  in  bivouac  at  Widow  Gordon's  or  Mitchell's  on  the 
Sandtown  road,  about  four  miles  from  the  Chattahoochee 
river.  Here,  during  the  Gth  and  7th,  the  regiment  rested, 
taking  such  comfort  as  could  be  had  in  a  little  hot  field, 
enclosed  on  two  sides  by  a  woods  which,  while  it  cast  no 
welcome  shadow,  kept  the  wind  from  reaching  us  from 
those  sides.  Still  it  was  made  to  contribute  innumerable 
boughs  of  oak  and  pine,  whose  leafy  limbs  were  made  to 
keep  out  the  sunshine  from  the  little  tenements  which  the 
men  always  built  wherever  they  slept. 

The  enemy  at  this  time  had  commenced  crossing  the 
Chattahoochee,  and  for  this  purpose  had  concentrated  his 
forces  nearer  the  railroad.  McPherson's  army  was  now  at 
the  extreme  right  of  the  army,  and  close  to  the  river. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  81st  Ohio,  with  the 
rest  of  the  Brigade,  was  ordered  forward  and  advanced 
nearly  to  the  river.  There  the  81st  was  detached  and  sent 
to  relieve  the  66th  Illinois,  which  had  been  on  picket  on 
the  river  bank.  The  left  of  the  line  was  almost  on  the 
bank  at  Baker's  Ferry,  while  toward  the  right,  the  line 
ran  along  some  high  ground,  along  a  fence,  some  three  or 
four  hundred  yards  from  the  river.  Companies  C  and  I 
were  posted  behind  a  little  bank  near  the  Ferry,  with 
orders  to  keep  up  a  sharp  firing,  as  if  attempting  to  eifect 
a  crossing.  A  few  men  crept  cautiously  down  toward  the 
Ferry,  where  an  outpost  was  established,  and  where,  by 
exercising  great  care,  a  shot  at  very  close  range  could 
occasionally  be  given.  So  the  day  passed;  while  one  reliei 
was  firing,  the  rest  were  lying  in  the  shade,  or  luxuriating 
upon  the  ripe  blackberries  which  grew  there  so  abundantly. 
Toward  evening,  a  peremptory  command  came  to  cease 
firing,  and  the  boys  were  glad  enough  to  hear  it,  as  scarcely 
one  was  not  afflicted  by  that  time  with  a  sore  shoulder  from 
the  recoil  of  the  gun. 

Among  those  who  manifested  bravery  of  the  highest 


124  II [STORY  OF  THE 

degree,  that  day,  and  whose  name  may  be  mentioned  here 
without  disparagement  to   any  of  the  others — for  he   is 
dead — is  Private    Fletcher  B.   Haynes,   of   Company    C. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  he  was  not  on  duty  with 
the  Company,  being  Eegimental  Armorer.    But,  as,  during 
the  march  he  could  do  nothing  in  that  capacity,  he  volun 
tarily  assumed  his  place  in  the  ranks,  and  carried  his  gun — 
a  revolving  carbine,  into  whatever  action  the  Company 
went.     Being  an  excellent  marksman,  he  went  that  day 
to  the  out-post  before  mentioned,  and  ascertaining  during 
the  day  that  a  point  blank  range  upon  the  rebel  battery 
could  be  obtained  at  a  little  distance   from    the   defense 
which  screened  the  party,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  build 
ing  a  barricade  at  that  point,  as  soon  as  darkness  should 
render  it  practicable.     When  darkness  came,  he  went  to 
work,  and  by  occasionally  ducking  low  to  the  ground,  as 
a  careless  rebel  sent  a  bullet  over  his  head,  he  succeeded 
in  getting  a  perfect  defense  built,  from  which,  when  day 
light  came,  he  could  try  his  gun  against  the  rebel  cannon. 
Morning  came,  and  when  the  rebel  gunners  made  their 
appearance  to  pay  their  respects  to  our  artillery,  a  bang ! 
from  Haynes'  gun  sent  a  ball  plump  through   the   em 
brasure,    and   the  cannon  was  not  loaded.     Again  they 
essayed  it,  but  another  ball  from  his  unerring  gun  drove 
them  away,  and  thus,  from  daylight  until  he  was  relieved, 
he  effectually  silenced  that  twelve  pounder  with  his  little 
carbine. 

About  seven  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  ninth  of 
July,  the  pickets  were  withdrawn,  and  almost  immediately 
the  march  was  commenced  toward  Marietta.  Another 
flank  movement  was  to  be  made,  and  for  the  fifth  time  in 
this  campaign,  McPherson  was  deputed  to  make  the 
movement.  He  had,  by  his  demonstrations  along  the 
river,  on  the  right,  drawn  the  attention  of  the  rebels  in 
that  direction,  and  now,  although  it  was  at  the  hight  of 


EIGHTY-FIRST   OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  125 

the  heat  of  a  Georgian  July,  it  was  thought  necessary  to 
move  his  whole  army  from  the  extreme  right  to  the  ex 
treme  left.  It  may  have  been  best,  but  it  seemed  then 
that  troops  nearer  the  left  would  have  made  the  movement 
with  far  less  trouble.  However,  it  is  not  for  soldiers  to 

" question  why, 


Their's  but  to  do  and  die." 

This  time  the  16th  Corps  had  the  advance,  and  with  a 
fatality  which  seemed  always  to  attend  the  movement  of 
an  army,  there  was  a  harassing  delay  which  made  it  after 
noon  when  the  81st  Ohio  started.  It  was  eighteen  miles 
to  Marietta,  which  place  was  to  be  the  end  of  that  day's 
march.  As  a  matter  of  course,  taking  into  account  the 
inevitable  delays  on  account  of  stoppages  of  the  artillery 
and  wagon  trains,  it  was  after  midnight  when  the  81st 
went  into  bivouac,  tired  and  worn  out  with  the  continual 
watching  and  marching  which  had  been  the  portion  of  a 
part  of  the  regiment  for  the  previous  forty  hours. 

During  this  night  march  there  was  a  curious  occurrence 
which  I  will  here  record  for  the  benefit  of  students  of  the 
science  of  mind.  The  regiment  was  marching  by  flank  in 
the  usual  way,  and  had  just  passed  through  one  of  the 
rebel  lines  of  works  around  Marietta,  when  suddenly 
there  was  a  rushing  sound  heard  by  those  in  the  rear  from 
toward  the  front  of  the  regiment,  accompanied  by  cries  of 
''Lookout!"  "Hi!  Hi!"  "  Get  out  of  the  way !"  "Take 
care  !  "  The  sound  and  rush  seemed  to  begin  at  the  head 
of  the  regiment  and  to  move  rapidly  toward  the  rear.  I 
was  near  the  rear  and  to  me  it  was  so  sudden  that  I  had 
no  time  to  reflect  until  I  found  myself  running  with  all 
possible  speed,  with  every  body  else,  out  of  the  road. 
Apparently  something — no  one  could  tell  what — runned 
down  the  road  through  the  dividing  ranks,  with  the  speed 
of  a  locomotive ;  and  so  vivid  was  the  impression  on  most 
of  the  troops,  that  something  had  passed,  that  there  was 


126 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


quite  a  lively  discussion,  for  a  time,  as  to  whether  it  was 
a  squad  of  rebel  cavalry,  a  runaway  horse,  or  some  Gov 
ernment  cattle  on  a  stampede.  As  there  were  large  herds 
of  cattle  near  by,  the  latter  supposition  had  most 
supporters.  But  nobody  could  be  found  who  had  seen 
any  thing ;  they  had  only  heard  something  going  at 
mad  speed  through  the  regiment,  and  then  the  sound 
ceased.  It  was  dark,  yet  a  horse  or  steer  could  have  been 
seen.  What  was  it?  Really  it  was  nothing  more  material 
than  a  panic  in  its  purest  and  most  ethereal  form.  A  rnule, 
at  the  woodside,  in  its  death  struggles,  rattled  some  bushes 
and  frightened  the  horses  of  the  officers  at  the  head  of  the 
column.  As  these  backed  a  little  toward  the  men,  the 
ranks  opened  on  either  side  of  the  road,  and  some  one 
indiscreetly  cried  out,  "look  out!"  So  accustomed  were 
the  men  to  do  just  as  their  file  leaders  did,  that  one  after 
another,  they  separated  the  whole  length  of  the  regiment 
as  before  stated,  without  knowing  why.  At  what  particu 
lar  point,  and  why,  the  idea  of  something  passing  arose, 
I  can  not  tell.  The  matter  was  a  subject  of  both  wonder 
and  merriment  for  a  long  time. 

Very  early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  July  the  regi 
ment  was  en  route  for  Roswell,  a  manufacturing  town  on  the 
Chattahoochee, about  twelve  or  fourteen  miles  from  Marietta. 
We  reached  it  at  1  P.  M.,  having  so  exhausted  the  troops 
by  the  ascent  of  a  long  hill,  totally  unprotected  by  shade, 
that  on  reaching  the  summit  where  there  was  a  woods 
and  shade,  our  regiment  numbered  less  than  eighty  men 
in  ranks !  Nor  were  other  regiments  any  better.  And 
those  who  by  their  iron  will  did  keep  in  their  places,  were 
so  nearly  exhausted  that  they,  too,  would  have  succumbed 
in  a  few  minutes  more  if  a  halt  had  not  been  made.  Men 
fell  out  of  ranks  then,  who  had  never  done  so  before.  I 
think  we  never  passed  through  so  severe  an  ordeal  in 
marching. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO   INFANTRY  VOLS.  127 

We  spent  the  rest  of  the  afternoon  in  crossing  the  river, 
to  relieve  Newton's  Division  of  the  4th  Corps.  The  cross 
ing  was  effected  without  the  use  of  bridge  or  pontoons — 
the  men  waded  across!  The  stream  was  but  about  twenty 
inches  deep  at  the  place  where  we  crossed,  but  it  was  at 
least  three  hundred  yards  wide,  and  the  current  was  quite 
strong.  The  Brigade  commanded  by  Colonel  Sprague, 
crossed  in  some  style — inarching  with  two  regiments  side 
by  side,  companies  in  line,  and  preceded  by  a  brass  band, 
discoursing  music  all  the  sweeter  for  being  on  the  water. 

As  usual,  before  the  almost  exhausted  troops  lay  down 
to  rest  and  sleep,  they  built  a  line  of  intrenchments,  such 
as  in  other  times  they  would  have  required  a  day  to  com 
plete.  But  this  situation  had  one  charm  for  our  ears  :  we 
could  sleep  at  night  without  hearing  the  skirmishers'  ever 
lasting  bang!  bang  !  at  the  front.  We  could  only  hear  in 
the  distance,  toward  the  right,  the  heavy  boom  of  the  far 
off  cannon,  with  which  we  had  no  concern.  The  men  ac 
tually  rested  here.  With  a  forest  in  which  to  bivouac, 
protected  from  the  heat  of  the  sun,  a  river  to  bathe  in, 
and  numerous  springs  of  sparkling  water  to  quench  thirst, 
there  was  real  comfort  in  the  situation. 

Here  we  lay  until  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  July,  by 
which  time  the  remainder  of  McPherson's  army  had  ar 
rived.  General  Dodge,  with  his  characteristic  energy, 
had  rebuilt  the  long  bridge  over  the  Chattahoochee,  so  that 
wagons  passed  over  it  on  the  morning  of  the  14th — being 
hardly  three  days'  work.  The  bridge  way  a  substantial 
structure,  made  of  what  lumber  could  be  found  at  the 
mills,  eked  out  by  the  flooring  of  many  of  the  buildings 
of  Roswell. 

Johnston  now  found  that  Sherman  had  a  fixed  lodgment 
on  the  Atlanta  side  of  the  river,  and  that  his  communica 
tions  were  again  in  danger  ;  he  therefore  withdrew  to  that 
Bide  with  all  his  army,  and  Sherman  followed.  Using  the 


128  HISTORY   OF   THE 

right  as  a  pivot,  Sherman  moved  his  line  like  the  hand  of 
a  clock,  resistlessly  onward,  pushing  every  thing  before  it. 
Starting  on  the  16th,  the  15th  and  16th  Corps,  on  parallel 
roads,  had  the  advance  of  McPherson'sarmy.  The  move 
ment  was  nearly  southward,  and  was  made  to  the  extent 
of  about  ten  miles  with  but  little  opposition.  Late  in  the 
afternoon,  the  9th  Illinois  (mounted,)  had  a  lively  skir 
mish  with  rebel  cavalry,  losing  several  men.  And  as  tho 
infantry  came  up,  there  was  a  brisk  little  fight,  between  a 
battery  or  two  of  ours,  and  one  of  the  enemy's.  Lieuten 
ant  Laird,  14th  Ohio  Battery,  got  two  or  three  of  his  guns 
in  position,  and  with  such  unerring  precision  did  he  send 
his  shot  and  shell  that  we  could  see  the  rebels  hastily 
evacuating  their  temporary  position,  and  making  all  pos 
sible  speed  toward  the  rear.  General  McPherson  and  Gen 
eral  Dodge  were  much  at  the  front,  even  when  the  rebel 
shell  were  flying  thickly  there.  There  was  no  movement 
of  that  army  which  was  not  seen  and  known  personally 
by  the  almost  omnipresent  McPherson.  Where  there  was 
to  be  danger  or  difficulty,  he  seemed  instinctively  to  know 
it,  and  he  was  invariably  present  to  give  his  valuable  aid. 
The  next  day  the  movement  was  continued,  with  slight 
skirmishing,  during  the  day.  The  troops  were  encamped 
that  night  in  line,  near  Nancy's  Creek.  The  next  day, 
the  18th  of  July,  an  advance  was  made  with  almost  con 
stant  skirmishing,  to  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  on  the  19th, 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  reached  Decatur.,  General  Scho- 
field's  troops  had  a  sharp  little  contest  at  the  edge  of  the 
town,  but  as  General  Logan's  troops,  and  the  advance 
of  General  Dodge's,  were  coming  in  at  the  other  side,  the 
rebels  retired.  Schotield's  troops  were  moved  a  little  to 
the  right,  so  as  to  leave  the  town  to  General  McPherson's 
command.  General  Dodge's  Corps  occupied  that  portion 
of  the  town  nearest  Atlanta,  and  was  very  unexpectedly 
saluted  by  a  rebel  battery,  just  about  sunset,  as  General 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  129 

Fuller's  Division  was  going  into  position  for  the  night. 
The  shell  struck  his  column,  and  created  a  considerable 
disturbance  in  the  bivouac  of  the  men  and  mules  of  the 
9th  Illinois.  This  command  hastily  sought  a  more  se 
cluded  camp  for  the  night.  General  Fuller's  troops  took 
refuge  in  lying  flat  down,  while  he  hurried  up  his  famous 
14th  Ohio  Battery,  which,  in  a  very  short  time,  drove  the 
rebels  from  their  position,  and  allowed  us  to  rest  during 
the  remainder  of  the  night  in  peace. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  which 
formed  the  right  of  the  whole  army,  fought  the  bloody 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek;  while  we  lay  peaceably  in 
bivouac  at  Decatur.  Some  idea  of  the  vastness  of  Sher 
man's  operations  may  be  had  from  the  fact  that  McPher- 
son's  army  did  not  know  that  Thomas  had  been  fighting. 
The  artillery  was  heard,  of  course,  but  that  was  of  so  fre 
quent  occurrence  that  it  was  scarcely  observed  at  all. 

With  the  successful  termination  of  that  battle,  our  lines 
began  to  close  in  around  Atlanta.  On  the  21st  of  July, 
the  17th  Corps  took  position  on  the  extreme  left,  having  a 
fierce  battle  for  the  possession  of  a  commanding  eminence, 
called  by  the  army,  Bald  Hill.  The  15th  Corps  joined  it 
on  the  right,  and  the  16th  was  mostly  left  in  reserve.  Gen 
eral  Sweeney's  Division  was  placed  in  line  with  the  15th,  one 
Brigade  of  General  Fuller's  Division  in  rear  of  the  17th 
Corps  and  Colonel  Sprague's  Brigade  left  in  charge  of  De 
catur.  Formidable  lines  of  earthworks  protected  the  long 
line  of  our  army  from  McPherson's  left  to  Thomas'  right. 
The  usual  amount  of  skirmishing  and  artillery  practice 
had  been  in  progress  (ill  day.  Night  settled  on  the  two 
armies,  lying  in  close  array,  entirely  oblivious  of  the  grand 
and  bloody  scene  that  was  to  be  enacted  on  the  morrow. 


11 


130  IIISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN — BATTLES  OF  JULY  22D  AND  28TH, 

The  morning  oi  the  22d  of  Jnlj  shone  brightly  on  the 
Union  Army,  awakened  early  with  the  news  that  Atlanta 
was  in  our  possession.  Skirmishers  were  sent  forward, 
who  found  the  half-finished  works  of  the  rebels  deserted, 
but  before  the  oily  itself  was  reached,  it  was  discovered 
that  the  enemy  had  but  withdrawn  to  their  inner  strong 
hold."  General  Johnston  had  been  superseded  by  Hoodr 
and  this  ambitious  fighting  general  was  making  his  first 
brilliant  maneuver.  He  had  withdrawn  to  his  inner  lines 
for  the  purpose  of  sending  an  overwhelming  force  around 
our  left,  to  attack  us  in  flank  and  rear.  A  mere  accident 
saved  us  from  even  the  headlong  tactics  of  this  most  un 
fortunate  general. 

Early  in  the  morning,  orders  had  been  given  to  pus], 
forward  the  whole  line  to  that  lately  occupied  by  the 
rebels,  and  intrench  there.  General  Sweeney's  Division 
had  been  ordered  from  its  position  with  the  15th  Corps, 
and  with  the  Brigade  of  General  Fuller's  Division,  in  rear 
of  the  17th  Corps,  was  to  take  position  on  the  left  of 
the  17th  Corps,  so  soon  as  it  should  get  its  line  estab 
lished.  As  soon  as  the  order  was  given.  General  Dodge 
went  to  the  ground  designated,  and  made  a  thorough  view 
of  it,  previous  to  assigning  his  troops  to  their  places.  The 
17th  Corps,  not  getting  its  new  line  established  very 
rapidly,  General  Sweeney's  Division,  on  reaching  a  point 
in  rear  of  tne  Brigade  of  General  Fuller's  Division,  halted 
to  await  orders.  As  the  troops  then  were.  General  Dodge's 
command  was  lying  nearly  a  half  mile  in  rear  of  the  center 
of  the  line  of  the  17th  Corps.  It  was  twelve  o'clock,  when 
some  stray  skirmish  shots  were  heard  in  the  woods,  near 


EIGHTY- FIRST   OHIO   INFANTRY   VOLS.  131 

General  Sweeney's  Division.  In  a  few  minutes,  a  staff 
officer  rode  up  to  General  Dodge,  (who  had  just  returned 
from  the  front,  and  was  eating  dinner  with  General  Fuller) 
and  told  him  of  the  firing,  and  said  that  there  seemed  to 
be  a  body  of  rebels  there.  As  this  was  so  very  far  in  rear 
of  the  17th  Corps,  it  seemed  incredible  that  a  force  should 
have  passed  their  flank,  nevertheless,  General  Dodge  sent 
an  order  to  General  Sweeney  to  put  bis  command  in  line 
of  battle,  and  telling  General  Fuller  to  have  his  command 
under  arms  immediately,  he  mounted,  and  rode  over  to 
where  General  Sweeney  was.  It  was  an  open  field,  bounded 
on  the  south  by  a  wide  belt  of  forest.  A  little  ri(^l  ran 
southwardly  through  the  field  toward  the  forest.  To  tho 
right  of  it,  ran  a  stream,  in  the  same  direction,  toward 
which  the  ground  on  either  side  gently  declined.  General 
Sweeney's  Division  was  posted  with  the  right  resting  near 
this  stream,  extending  up  to  the  ridge,  where  nearly  all 
the  artillery  was  placed,  then  bending  back  at  right  angles 
and  running  along  the  ridge.  The  right  regiment  was  the 
12th  Illinois,  and  immediately  on  its  left  was  the  81st  Ohio, 
(three  companies  of  which  were  in  reserve  under  Captain 
Hill,)  which  extended  as  far  as  to  the  artillery.  General 
Fuller  placed  his  Brigade  on  the  west  side  of  the  stream 
mentioned,  in  a  line  nearly  in  continuation  of  the  right  of 
General  Sweeney's.  Hardly  were  these  dispositions  made, 
until  the  artillery  at  the  angle  of  General  Sweeney's  line 
was  suddenly  and  fiercely  assaulted  by  a  strong  column  of 
rebels,  emerging  almost  without  notice,  from  the  woods  so 
near  in  front.  Belching  forth  their  quick  volleys  of  can 
ister,  full  in  the  faces  of  the  foe,  it  seemed  that  the-guns  of 
Blodgett  and  Laird  (the  former  Company  H,»lst  Missouri 
Light  Artillery,  and  the  latter,  14th  Ohio  Battery)  would 
alone  be  invincible;  but  the  determination  of  the  rebels 
was  great,  and  their  rashness  such  as  only  Hood  could  in 
spire.  Their  numbers,  we  soon  saw,  were  not  to  be 


132  HISTORY  OF  THE 

despised.  Pouring  out  of  the  woods  on  the  right  and  left, 
almost  enveloping  the  three  Brigades  which  formed  the 
16th  Corps,  it  looked  as  if  there  could  be  no  escape  from 
defeat  and  surrender.  At  one  time  the  Brigade  of  Colonel 
Morrill,  (General  Fuller's  Division,)  was  forced  back,  tem 
porarily  by  a  deadly  flank  fire  poured  upon  it  from  a  line 
in  the  woods  on  its  right,  but  nobly  rallying,  and  partially 
changing  front,  it  advanced  again  to  victory. 

General  Sweeney's  command  stood  like  a  rock.  Never  was 
there  morfe  daring  or  more  effective  resistance  made,  than 
by  both  his  infantry  and  artillery;  attacked  as  they  were  with 
scarify  a  moment's  warning,  and  without  the  slightest 
defenses.  At  an  opportune  moment,  Captain  Hill's  re 
serve,  ordered  forward  by  General  Dodge,  took  position 
in  a  gap  between  the  81st  Ohio  and  12th  Illinois,  and 
these  regiments  moyed  forward  in  a  grand  triumphal 
charge,  carrying  every  thing  before  them  and  driving  the 
dismayed  foe  in  terror  from  the  field.  The  81st  Ohio,  in 
this  charge,  captured  a  number  of  prisoners  and  three 
rebel  battle  flags.  With  this,  the  rebels  were  apparently 
satisfied  to  yield  the  contest.  They  had  marched  nearly 
all  the  previous  night,  and  had  expected  to  take  us  com 
pletely  by  surprise,  as  they  would  have  done,  if  it  had  not 
been  for  the  mere  accidental  position  of  General  Sweeney's 
Division.  Finding  this  force  in  the  very  place  they  had 
expected  to  find  nothing,  and  meeting  with  such  deter 
mined  and  destructive  resistance,  they  became  heartily 
discouraged,  and  fell  back  under  cover  of  the  woods. 

In  the  meantime,  other  rebel  columns  had  been  at  work 
elsewhere.  The  first  attack  was  made  on  General  Dodge, 
but  the  rest  followed  quickly.  One  column  gained  the 
immediate  rear  of  the  17th  Corps,  and  crushing  it,  the  col 
umn  swept  along  in  rear  undisturbed,  until  they  reached 
a  little  road  on  which  General  McPherson  was  riding, 
alone,  toward  the  line  of  the  17th  Corps,  all  ignorant 


EIGHTY-FIRST   OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  133 

of  the  presence  of  an  enemy  in  the  rear  of  his  command. 
At  that  point,  the  General  was  suddenly  confronted  by  a 
line  of  rebels.  There  was  no  order  to  halt,  no  demand  for 
surrender,  but  a  volley  of  musketry  crashed  through  the 
woods,  and  the  gallant  and  beloved  McPherson  was 
stretched  on  the  ground.  His  horse  escaping  unhurt, 
ran  into  our  lines  and  was  the  first  to  carry  the  sad 
news  of  his  rider's  death.  On  the  same  road,  about  the 
same  time,  another  portion  of  this  rebel  line  came  sud 
denly  upon  the  battery  of  Lieutenant  Murray,  ("  F  "  2d 
U.  S.  Artillery,)  which  was  at  the  time  passing  from  the 
line  of  the  17th  Corps  to  General  Fuller.  The  horses  were 
shot  down,  and  the  guns  and  men  captured.  Still  further 
to  the  right  the  rebel  line  struck  the  works  of  the  17th 
Corps  in  flank,  and  drove  the  men  of  that  Corps  back 
slowly  toward  Bald  Hill,  where  the  right  of  the  Corps 
rested.  These  men  were  not  driven  by  fear.  Fighting 
desperately  now  from  one  side  and  then  from  the  other 
of  their  works,  they  only  went  back  as  they  found  them 
selves  nearly  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  army. 

A  half  mile  or  more  to  the  right,  another  rebel  column 
made  a  direct  assault  on  the  line  held  by  the  15th  Corps, 
near  the  railroad.  Rushing  through  a  railroad  cut,  which, 
apparently,  was  not  defended,  the  rebels  gained  a  flank 
fire  on  our  troops,  and  forced  them  to  retire,  leaving  the 
guns  of  the  celebrated  DeGres'  Battery  in  the  enemy's 
hands.  This  was  late  in  the  afternoon.  General  Dodge's 
troops  had  driven  away  their  assailants,  and  were  busy  in 
erecting  defenses  against  another  assault.  General  Logan 
had  been  assigned  to  the  command  made  vacant  by  the 
death  of  McPherson.  In  the  emergency  of  the  partial 
repulse  of  the  15th  Corps,  he  called  on  General  Dodge  for 
a  Brigade  to  aid  in  retrieving  the  lost  works.  Colonel 
Mersey's  Brigade  was  sent.  By  the  road  which  they  had 
to  inarch,  the  distance  was  nearly  two  miles,  yet  these 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

men,  who  bad  already  fought  a  desperate  arid  exhaustive 
battle,  and  who  had  afterward  been  hard  at  work  in  build 
ing  works,  moved  at  double  quick  most  of  the  way,  and 
immediately  joined  in  a  charge  by  which  the  line  which 
had  been  lost  was  recovered,  and  the  guns  retaken.  A 
detail  from  the  81st  Ohio  assisted  Captain  DeGres  in 
serving  his  guns  upon  the  retreating  rebels.  So  zealous 
were  they  in  this  work  that  one  of  the  guns  burst  from 
the  effects  of  its  heavy  charges. 

So  ended  the  battle,  with  the  exception  of  a  most  bloody 
and  persistent  attack  on  the  small  portion  of  the  17th 
Corps,  crowded  together  on  Bald  Hill.  Night  put  a  stop 
to  the  desperate  hand  to  hand  conflict,  which  raged  there 
nearly  all  the  afternoon. 

To  show  the  intensity  of  the  struggle  in  General  Dodge's 
front,  it  may  be  stated  that  Lieutenant  Blodgett's  Battery 
fired  over  four  hundred  rounds,  mostly  case  and  canister  ; 
while  that  of  Lieutenant  Laird  fired  over  six  hundred 
rounds  of  the  same  kind.  On  this  little  front  our  troops 
buried  one  hundred  and  fifty  dead  rebels,  after  the  battle. 
Many  more  were  carried  off  and  buried  by  the  enemy. 
The  ordnance  officer  of  one  Division  reported  having 
picked  up  1,200  guns,  abandoned  by  the  enemy.  General 
Dodge's  command  took  prisoners  representing  forty-nine 
different  regiments. 

Among  these  who  fell  to  rise  no  more  in  the  first  victori 
ous  charge  made  by  the  81st  Ohio,  was  Captain  Charles 
Lane,  commanding  Company  K.  A  rebel  bullet  pierced 
his  head,  and  his  death  was  instantaneous.  To  say  that 
he  died  at  his  post  in  defense  of  his  country,  gives  him  an 
immortality  of  honor  on  the  bright  roll  of  his  country's 
heroes ;  to  say  that  he  was  beloved  by  his  men,  and 
respected  by  his  fellow  officers;  that  he  was  one  of  the 
very  few  in  the  army  possessing  firmness  sufficient  to 
resist  its  temptations ;  that  his  private  character  was 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOlJ*. 

stainless;  that  his  example  was  that  of  a  noble  Christian 
soldier — all  this  may  render  his  memory  dear  to  his  friends, 
and  reconcile  them  in  part  to  his  loss.  But  around  his 
widowed  and  orphaned  hearthstone  are  lonely  hearts 
gathered  to  whom  no  eulogy  can  bring  the  balm  of  con 
solation.  Theirs  is  a  grief  too  sacred  and  tender  for 
human  touch. 

Upon  the  death  of  Captain  Lane,  Lieutenant  Hezekiah 
Hoover  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Co  in  pain'.  He 
led  it  to  the  assault  subsequently  made  by  the  Brigade 
upon  the  line  of  works  lost  by  the  15th  Corps,  and  there, 
while  advancing,  was  struck  by  a  piece  of  shell  and 
instantly  killed.  Thus,  within  a  few  hours,  two  officers 
of  the  same  company  fell  to  rise  no  more.  Their  bodies 
were  tenderly  borne  by  their  bereaved  comrades  to  their 
last  resting  place,  and  decently  interred. 

Late  in  the  night  of  the  22d,  the  tired  soldiers  of  Colonel 
Mersey's  Brigade  were  awakened  and  moved  over  to  Bald 
Hill.  This  was  in  consequence  of  the  importaiK-e  of  the 
position,  and  of  the  fact  that  the  soldiers  who  were  occu 
pying  it  were  exhausted,  and  were  so  mixed  up  that  their 
commanders  were  unwilling  to  depend  on  them  in  case  of 
a  determined  night  assault.  It  was  a  compliment  to  the 
bravery  of  this  Brigade  to  be  assigned  to  this  important 
position,  but  the  boys  did  not  so  understand  it.  and  they 
only  thought  they  were  being  overworked.  The  rebels 
never  renewed  the  attack;  they  had  lost  terribly  in  killed 
and  wounded,  amounting  to  over. seven  thousand,  while 
our  loss  was  but  three  thousand  five  hundred.  Still,  our 
troops,  taking  lessons  in  building  defenses  from  the  new 
mode  of  attack  to  which  they  had  been  subjected,  built 
Hiich  works  as  they  never  had  built  before.  On  Bald  Hill, 
the  12th  Illinois  and  81st  Ohio  had  a  perfect  labyrinth  of 
works.  They  had  no  flanks,  no  rear !  These  they  peace- 


13G  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ably  occupied  during  the  succeeding  three  or  four  days, 
annoyed  only  by  an  occasional  skirmisher's  shot. 

During  these  days  of  rest  after  the  battle  of  the  22d? 
the  term  of  service  of  Colonel  Mersey  expired,  and  that 
officer,  so  long  in  command  of  the  Brigade,  to  which  the 
81st  Ohio  belonged,  took  his  leave  of  his  soldiers.  As  he 
passed  through  the  command  with  which  he  had  been  so 
long  connected,  his  feelings  overpowered  him,  and  tears, 
instead  of  words,  told  of  the  strong  attachment  with  which 
he  was  bound  to  them.  It  was  a  touching  parting  scene, 
on  that  hot  and  bloody  battle  field.  The  Colonel  received 
a  highly  complimentary  letter  upon  the  occasion  of  his 
departure  from  General  Dodge,  as  an  extract  will  show  : 

"  You  leave  at  a  time  and  under  circumstances  of  which 
you  and  your  command  may  justly  be  proud.  Fighting 
:is  you  did,  on  three  different  fields  the  same  day,  and  vic 
torious  on  every  one,  forms  the  best  and  most  honorable 
ro \vnrd  that  you  can  take  with  you.  I  again  heartily 
thank  you  for  all  you  have  done,  and  trust  that  you  will 
not  forget  old  associates  in  any  new  field  you  may  choose. 
I  am,  very  respectful ly, 

G.  M.  DODGE, 

Major  General.'' 

This  left  Lieutenant-Colonel  Phillips,  of  the  9th  Illinois, 
in  command  of  the  Brigade.  About  the  same  time,  General 
Sweeney,  commanding  the  Division,  was  arrested  and 
ordered  to  Nashville  for  trial,  upon  charges  preferred  by 
order  of  General  Dodge;  and  General  J.  M.  Corse,  Chief 
of  Staff  to  General  Sherman,  was  assigned  to  the  com 
mand. 

The  troops  remained  in  the  same  position  until  the 
evening  of  the  26th  of  July,  when  General  Sherman  de 
termined  to  move  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  from  the 
left  to  the  right  flank.  To  this  end  a  very  strong  line 
of  works  had  been  built  where  the  new  left  flank  was  to 
rest,  in  order  to  counteract  an  attack,  should  the  enemy 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  137 

discover  our  withdrawal.  All  things  being  ready,  as  soon 
as  it  was  dark,  the  16th  Corps  silently  left  its  works,  first, 
followed  by  the  17th  and  15th  Corps,  in  order,  but  leaving 
the  skirmishers  to  withdraw  nearer  daylight.  The  night 
was  exceedingly  dark,  and  the  roads  obscure  and  mani 
fold,  being  close  in  rear  of  the  army.  We  blundered 
along  nearly  all  night,  and  at  daylight  went  into  bivouac 
for  a  few  hours.  We  were  still  several  miles  from  our 
destination,  and  began  to  move  by  ten  o'clock.  Some 
time  in  the  afternoon,  the  16th  Corps  began  to  go  into 
position  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  army  on  Utoy 
Creek.  A  brisk  skirmish  ensued,  as  our  skirmishers 
drove  back  those  of  the  enemy,  and  it  was  after  "dark 
before  our  troops  got  into  position.  The  17th  Corps, 
which  was  to  go  on  the  right  of  the  16th,  lay  in  rear  that 
night  in  bivouac.  On  the  28th,  it  took  position  early, 
followed  by  the  15th  Corps,  which  was  to  form  the  ex 
treme  right. 

While  the  latter  Corps  was  forming  its  line,  Hood  made 
another  of  his  characteristic  assaults.  He  had  discovered 
our  movement  from  left  to  right,  and  had  undertaken  to 
outmarch  us,  so  as  to  get  possession  of  the  ground  before 
we  did.  In  this,  as  in  his  attack  of  the  22d,  he  was  nearly 
successful.  He  had  almost  marched  around  the  flank  of 
our  army,  hence  his  attack  fell  mostly  on  the  15th  Corps. 
It  was  like  all  the  battles  fought  by  Hood,  bold  and  reck 
less.  Mass  after  mass  was  hurled  against  the  gallant  15th 
Corps,  only  to  be  horribly  mangled  and  sent  bleeding 
back.  Still  the  attack  was  persistent,  and  General  How 
ard,  who  the  previous  day  had  assumed  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  who,  with  General  Logan, 
was  watching  the  contest,  ordered  up  re-enforcements. 
From  the  16th  Corps  four  regiments  were  sent,  two  from 
Colonel  Phillips'  Brigade,  12th  Illinois  and  81st  Ohio. 
These  regiments  arrived  in  time  to  not  only  revive  the 


Io8  HISTORY  OF  THE 

courage  of  the  tried  15th  Corps,  but  also  to  take  an  active 
part  in  repelling  the  enemy.  This  battle  was  known  as 
the  battle  of  Ebenezer  Church.  It  was  the  last  of  Hood's 
attempts  to  "flank"  General  Sherman  before  Atlanta. 
Prisoners  very  generally  said  with  more  of  truth  than 
playfulness,  that  Hood  could  not  fight  much  longer  in 
that  way,  "for,"  said  they,  "he  has  not  much  more  than 
one  more  killin'  left !  " 

Now  began  what  was  in  earnest,  the  siege  of  Atlanta. 
Our  lines  did  not  invest  the  place,  but,  as  far  as  they 
reached,  they  were  placed  as  close  to  the  rebel  works  as 
possible.  Whenever  it  was  possible,  some  point  in  advance 
was  seized  by  force  or  strategy,  and  thus  we  kept  creep 
ing  closer  and  closer  toward  the  stronghold.  But  it  was 
a  trying  operation.  Perhaps  no  month  in  the  history  of 
the  81st  was  filled  with  so  much  mental  and  bodily  dis 
comfort,  as  was  this.  It  was  hot ;  rations  were  barely 
sufficient,  and  sometimes  scanty.  Vegetables  were  not  at 
tainable.  The  troops  actually  had  no  rest.  There  were, 
in  fact,  no  reserves  where  the  enemy's  balls  did  not  come. 
It  was  a  continued  slow-fought  battle,  day  and  night  for 
these  four  weeks.  There  was,  to  many  of  the  regiments, 
less  danger  on  the  picket  line  than  behind  their  works. 
The  81st  was  in  such  a  position  that  its  works  afforded  it 
no  protection.  Its  members  dug  holes  in  the  ground,  and 
lived  a  sort  of  prison  life  there.  The  fly  under  which 
headquarters  of  the  regiment  was  established  was  riddled 
with  bullets,  and  if  the  place  had  not  been  strongly  in 
trenched  and  sunk  a  little  in  the  ground,  it  would  have 
been  untenable.  Through  the  tree-tops,  and  against  their 
trunks  and  limbs,  the  balls  were  continually  flying.  Every 
clay  some  one  or  more  were  wounded  or  killed  while  walk 
ing  about  in  camp,  and  more  than  one  was  killed  while 
asleep  at  night.  Other  regiments  were  in  like,  or  worse 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  139 

condition.  Under  these  circumstances,  men  were  becom 
ing  sick  rapidly.  Even  the  killed  and  wounded  thinned 
the  ranks  sadly,  but  the  continual  watching  and  apprehen 
sion  wore  out  the  men  worse  than  active  duty  could  do. 
There  was  a  growing  necessity  for  some  change  of  tactics. 
Every  body  saw  that  in  this  way  Hood  could  soon  be  able 
to  take  Sherman  instead  of  Sherman  taking  Atlanta. 

About  the  first  of  August  Governor  Brough  received 
oliicial  notice  of  the  resignation  of  Colonel  Morton  and 
Major  Evans.  The  former  had  remained  as  commandant 
at  Pulaski  until  sometime  in  July,  when,  on  account  ot 
bad  health,  he  resigned.  Major  Evans  remained  with  the 
regiment  until  after  the  investment  of  Kennesaw  Moun 
tain,  when,  being  attacked  violently  with  hemorrhage  ot 
the  lungs,  he  was  compelled  to  resign.  Governor  Brough 
filled  the  vacancies  by  appointing  Lieutenant-Colonel  R. 
N.  Adams,  Colonel,  Captain  J.  W.  Titus,  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel,  and  Captain  W.  H.  Chamberlin,  Major.  Colonel  Titus 
tendered  his  resignation  in  a  few  days,  and  it  was  accepted. 
Colonel  Adams  became  ranking  officer  in  the  Brigade,  and 
assumed  command. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  the  16th  Corps  lost  the  services 
of  General  Dodge,  who  had  been  so  long  connected  with  a 
part  of  that  organization.  The  General  was  making,  as 
was  his  invariable  custom,  a  personal  examination  of  that 
portion  of  his  lines  in  front  of  General  Corse's  Division, 
accompanied  by  a  single  staff  officer,  and  one  or  two  or 
derlies.  Not  content  with  the  view  from  the  front  line, 
he  followed  a  little  trench,  cut  for  the  purpose,  to  the  outer 
intrenched  picket  line.  Here,  while  looking  through  one 
of  the  loop-holes,  a  rebel  sent  a  ball  at  him,  and  inflicted 
an  ugl}'  wound  upon  his  forehead  and  the  top  of  his  head. 
Half  an  inch  lower  would  have  killed  him.  He  was  borne 
back  to  his  quarters  and  sent  North.  Brigadier-General 
T.  E.  G.  Ransom  succeeded  him  in  command. 


140  HISTORY    OF   THE 

About  this  time  CaptainW.  H.  Hill,  of  the  81st  Ohio,while 
walking  about  in  the  camp  of  his  regiment,  received  a 
very  painful  wound  in  his  left  hand,  which  rendered  him 
unfit  for  duty,  and  he  was  sent  North  to  hospital.  Captain 
W.  C.  Henry  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  regiment. 

During  the  advance  of  General  Corse's  lines  one  day,  in 
this  situation,  Corporal  Daniel  Harpster,  Company  E,  81st 
Ohio,  being  on  the  skirmish  line,  ran  out  seventy-five 
yards  in  advance  of  his  comrades,  surprised  a  picket-post, 
where  were  intrenched  four  brawny,  big  rebels,  and  boldly 
demanded  their  surrender.  The  astonished  Johnnies  com 
plied  without  a  word  !  As  he  was  about  to  mnrch  them 
to  the  rear,  one  of  them  asked  him  if  they  should  bring 
their  guns  along.  The  anomaly  of  one  man  guarding  four 
armed  men  seemed  too  great,  and  he  directed  them  to  leave 
their  guns.  They  obeyed,  and  our  little  Corporal  brought 
in  those  four  giants  of  chivalry,  all  alone.  If  every  officer 
and  soldier  in  the  army  had  always  done  his  part  as  well 
as  Corporal  Harpster  did  on  this  occasion,  the  public  would 
have  had  little  cause  to  complain  of  our  military  operations. 


EIGHTY -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  141 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

"  ATLANTA  OURS,  AND    FAIRLY  WON." 

On  the  25th  of  August,  Sherman's  plans  for  his  grand 
and  decisive  flank  movement  around  Atlanta,  were  ma 
tured.  That  night  Thomas'  army,  and  a  portion  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  were  withdrawn,  and  moved  a 
short  distance  toward  the  right.  All  day  of  the  26th  Gen 
eral  Howard's  command  lay  in  nearly  a  circle,  defending 
the  then  extreme  left.  The  rebels  were  astonished  and 
pleased,  but  they  did  not  attack  ;  they  supposed  General 
Sherman  was  in  full  retreat.  On  the  night  of  the  26th,  all 
of  General  Howard's  Army  of  the  Tennessee  got  fairly 
under  way,  and  withdrew  in  perfect  safety.  It  was  a 
wearisome,  hard  march,  as  such  night  marches  always 
were,  but  it  was  a  relief  to  the  men  who  had  lain  a  whole 
month  behind  those  hated  works,  and,  weak  as  many  of 
them  were,  they  endured  it  cheerfully.  Two  men  of  the 
81st  Ohio,  Sergeant  James  McCann,  of  Company  C,  and 
Private  Frazer,  of  Company  G,  were  lost  in  this  movement, 
by  lying  down  beside  the  road  while  the  regiment  made 
a  temporary  halt,  and  falling  to  sleep,  did  not  wake  until 
daylight,  when  they  were  aroused  to  be  made  prisoners. 
A  heavy  rain  storm  came  up  about  one  or  two 
o'clock  that  night,  but  it  caused  no  hindrance. 
The  different  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  moved 
by  parallel  roads,  and  by  eight  o'clock  on  the  27th,  were 
encamped  not  far  from  the  Sandtown  ferry  of  the  Chatta- 
hoochee.  Resting  here  all  day,  the  march  was  resumed 
on  the  28th  toward  the  railroad  running  from  East 
Point  to  Montgomery,  which  was  reached  that  night. 
The  next  clay  General  Ransom,  with  a  portion  of 


142  HISTORY    OF    THE 

his  corps,  spent  the  day  in  destroying  the  railroad 
from  the  vicinity  of  Fairburn,  southward.  His  com 
mand  destroyed  about  twelve  miles  effectually.  Col 
onel  Adams'  Brigade  distinguished  itself  by  its  rather 
extraordinary  destructive  abilities  in  this  new  field  of  ac 
tion.  But  the  pioneer  corps  of  the  2d  Division,  composed 
mostly  of  contrabands,  did  the  most  effective  service,  and 
with  the  most  good  will.  Hitherto  these  men  had  been 
employed  in  building  bridges,  repairing  roads,  and  such 
work,  which  seemed  to  their  woolly  heads,  to  be  rather 
aiding  than  injuring  the  South  ;  but  now,  when  an  oppor 
tunity  came  of  absolutely  tearing  up  a  great  highway  of 
rebeldora,  their  joy  knew  no  bounds,  and  manifested  itself 
in  Herculean  efforts  at  overturning  long  sections  of  the 
road  at  once,  accompanied  with  songs  and  shouts  of  glad 
ness.  It  is  supposed  that  such  an  amount  of  labor  was 
never  before  extracted  from  them  in  any  other  undertaking. 

On  the  30th  of  August  the  troops  again  moved,  the  ar 
rangement  of  the  whole  army  being  such  that,  as  usual, 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  on  the  outer  flank,  arid 
did  the  most  marching.  This  day  the  progress  was  much 
hindered  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which,  with  one  or  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  kept  disputing  our  advance  at  every 
defensible  point.  At  one  time,  one  Brigade  of  infantry 
from  General  Corse's  Division,  was  sent  forward  to  aid 
General  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  and,  in  making  a  charge,  the 
2d  and  7th  Iowa  regiments  lost  considerably.  The  orders 
were  for  the  16th  Corps  to  reach,  that  night,  a  position  on 
Flint  river,  near  Jonesboro.  Owing  to  these  hindrances, 
and  the  fact  that  this  Corps  had  to  construct  its  own  road 
for  the  last  eight  miles,  the  last  of  the  command  did  not 
reach  camp  until  almost  daylight. 

A  portion  of  the  15th  Corps  which  had  arrived  earlier 
the  evening  before,  had  crossed  Flint  river,  and  had  en- 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  14o 

countered  some  of  the  enemy's  pickets.  Early  in  the  morn 
ing  of  the  31st,  General  Corse's  Division  of  the  16th  Corps 
was  moved  across  and  placed  in  line  on  the  right  of  the 
15th  Corps — Colonel  Adams'  Brigade  joining  the  15th 
Corps,  and  General  Rice's  Brigade  on  the  right,  which  ex 
tended  the  line  nearly  to  the  river.  In  this  position  works 
were  thrown  up.  In  the  meantime,  General  Sherman  had 
arranged  a  programme  for  the  day's  exercises,  comprising 
various  movements.  In  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  a 
demonstration  was  to  be  made  as  of  an  advance,  about  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon.  Other  portions  of  the  army  were 
to  tear  up  track,  etc.  But  the  rebels  had  their  plans  laid 
also,  and  that  without  consultation  with  General  Sherman. 
The  result  was  that  just  about  the  time  General  Howard 
was  to  make  his  demonstrations,  the  enemy  came  pouring 
upon  the  15th  and  16th  Corps  in  an  impetuous  charge. 
Fierce  and  sharp  was  the  attack,  but  Sherman's  heroes 
had  chosen  their  ground,  and  were  determined  to  maintain 
it.  The  chief  point  of  apprehension  was  that  they  would 
outflank  us,  as  they  evidently  thought  they  could,  on  the 
right.  To  prevent  this,  General  Ransom  hurried  over  a 
Brigade  from  the  4th  Division,  and  had  it  in  readiness 
for  such  an  emergency.  But  the  rebel  line  was  too  short 
to  reach  beyond  our  flank,  and  too  weak  to  pierce  our  liv 
ing  wall,  so  the  battle  ended  with  another  victory  for  the 
Right.  Our  loss  was  almost  nothing,  while  the  rebel  loss 
in  killed  was  counted  by  hundreds.  In  front  of  Colonel 
Adams'  Brigade  they  advanced  through  an  open  field, 
where  our  artillery  and  musketry  poured  volleys  into  their 
ranks,  which  cut  them  down  by  scores.  AVheu  their  line 
retreated,  numbers  refused  to  go  back,  and  lay  concealed 
until  such  time  as  they  could  rise  with  safety  and  surren 
der.  From  these  prisoners  we  learned  that  it  was  General 
Pat.  Cleburne's  Division  that  had  been  thrown  on  the  rebel 


144  HISTORY  OF  THE 

left,  and  which  had  been  so  disastrously  repulsed  by  Gen 
eral  Corse's  command. 

After  the  fighting  of  this  day  was  ended  a  stray  ball 
from  a  rebel  skirmisher  flew  over  into  the  camp  of  the  2d 
Brigade,  and  falling  under  the  fly  at  Headquarters, 
wounded  Colonel  Adams  slightly.  It  was  not  serious 
enough  to  take  him  from  duty. 

The  next  day  grand  preparations  were  made  for  a  literal 
squeezing  together  of  the  rebel  army.  It  was  known  that 
but  about  two-thirds  of  it  was  at  Jonesboro,  and  General 
Sherman  felt  able  to  envelop  that  army  entirely  with  his 
own.  He  set  the  left  to  the  task  of  driving  in  the  enemy's 
right,  and  ordered  the  17th  Corps  to  our  extreme  right  to 
drive  in  that  flank.  The  plan  was  excellent,  and  General 
Jeff.  Davis,  of  the  14th  Corps,  won  his  fame  by  carrying 
out  his  part  of  it  successfully  ;  but  others  were  not  so 
quick  in  their  movements,  and  night  came  before  the 
troops  were  all  in  position  to  make  the  grand  attack.  Morn 
ing  of  September  2d  disclosed  to  us  that  the  enemy  had 
evacuated  Jonesboro,  and  brought  rumors  that  Slocum, 
who  had  all  this  time  been  left  at  the  Chattahoochee 
river  with  the  20th  Corps,  had  entered  Atlanta  ! 

The  campaign  was  ended  !  For  four  months  this  army 
had  been  in  march,  bivouac  or  battle,  without  intermission. 
Now  there  would  be  a  rest. 

Nevertheless  the  order  of  that  morning  was  forward ! 
and  southward  the  whole  army  started  in  pursuit.  The 
enemy  was  overtaken  at  Lovejoy's  Station,  where  the  rebel 
Corps  which  had  evacuated  Atlanta,  joined  the  remainder 
of  the  Army.  General  Sherman  made  a  demonstration 
against  them,  but  it  was  simply  for  effect.  He  did  not 
wish  to  risk  a  general  engagement.  The  81st  Ohio  was 
sent  out  on  the  skirmish  line  here,  and  pressed  so  vigor 
ously  on  the  rebels  that  it  lost  several  in  killed  and  wounded. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY   VuLS.  145 

If  it  had  been  properly  supported  its  charge  would  have 
driven  the  enemy  from  their  works  in  its  front. 

The  retrograde  march  to  Atlanta  was  conducted  with 
great  care.  Strong  works  were  built  about  a  mile  in  rear 
of  the  advance  line,  and  manned  with  the  reserves,  while 
those  in  front  withdrew  under  cover  of  darkness.  A  tre 
mendous  rain  fell  the  night  the  movement  began,  making 
it  almost  impossible  to  move  artillery  or  wagons,  but  nev 
ertheless  the  16th  Corps  was  able  to  withdraw,  shortly 
after  daylight  of  September  6th,  from  the  reserve  works, 
and  to  reach  Jonesboro  undisturbed.  Here  the  troops  re 
sumed  their  old  positions.  The  following  morning  Gen 
eral  Howard's  command  moved  again,  reaching  Rough  and 
Heady  that  night,  and  the  next  day,  September  8th,  it 
reached  East  Point,  where  it  was  to  be  stationed. 

The  day  after  the  battle  of  Jonesboro.  Private  M.  R. 
Blizzard,  of  Company  I,  was  wounded  by  a  rebel  ball 
while  walking  in  front  of  our  works.  The  wound  proved 
fatal — the  poor  fellow  died  the  third  day.  Young  Blizzard 
had  endeared  himself  to  all  his  acquaintances  by  his  quiet, 
manly  bearing,  and  his  excellent,  soldierly  qualities,  and 
his  death,  just  at  the  close  of  the  hard  campaign,  seemed 
a-  mysterious  dispensation. 

During  the  progress  of  the  campaign  it  had  been  unani 
mously  supposed  by  officers  and  men,  that  after  it  was 
ended  there  would  be  a  halt  for  the  winter.  Such  had  been 
tke  previous  practice.  Grant  took  Yicksburg  on  the  4th 
of  July,  and  his  army  was  furlough ed  and  scattered  from 
that  time  until  the  following  spring.  And  there  had  not 
yet  been  a  campaign  as  severe  as  this  one.  Therefore  it 
was  expected  that  as  a  matter  of  course  the  attainment  of 
the -objective  point  would  be  the  beginning  of  a  winter  of 
comparative  quiet.  But  General  Sherman  had  other  inten 
tions,  and  in  this  case,  as  in  many  others,  ho  (jid  not  think 
12 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

it  necessary  to  keep  them  entirely  secret.  In  his  orders 
announcing  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  and  the  assignment  of  the 
three  armies  to  their  positions  at  Decatur,  Atlanta  and 
East  Point,  he  added  that  "  the  troops  would  now  have  a 
full  month's  rest,  preparatory  to  a  fine  winter's  campaign  !  " 
Unexpected  as  this  announcement  was,  and  uninviting  as 
was  the  prospect  it  gave  to  many,  the  phrases  "  full  month's 
rest,"  and  "  fine  winter's  campaign  "  became  by-words  that 
were  provocative  of  many  a  good  natured  smile. 

The  81st  Ohio,  trusting  all  things,  ordered  up  the  tents 
that  had  been  left  at  Chattanooga,  and  having  cleaned  off  a 
camping  ground  with  great  labor,  pitched  their  tents  and 
made  themselves  comfortable. 

Just  as  the  army  left  Atlanta  on  this  final  movement, 
the  few  men  of  the  five  old  companies  who  had  served  three 
years,  and  who  had  not  re-enlisted,  started  North  to  be 
mustered  out.  They  numbered  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty,  and  their  withdrawal  did  not  necessarily  change  the 
organization  of  the  regiment.  There  were  still  enough  men 
to  make  a  show  of  ten  companies,  and  it  was  not  till  late 
in  December  that  official  notice  of  their  muster  out  came  ; 
and  even  then  oply  two  companies  (B  and  C)  were  mus 
tered  out  entire,  that  is,  lost  their  existence.  The  remain 
ing  members  of  those  companies,  veterans  and  recruits, 
were  assigned  to  the  other  companies  of  the  regiment. 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFAN1RY  VOLS.  147 

CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    MARCH    FROM    ATLANTA   TO    THE    SEA. 

September  had  not  passed  until  evidences  of  the  begin 
ning  of  the  ;'fine  winter's  campaign"  began  to  appear. 
The  81st  Ohio,  with  the  remainder  of  General  Corse's  Di 
vision,  was  ordered  to  Rome,  Georgia.  One  Brigade  of  that 
Division  had  been  in  garrison  there  ever  since  its  capture 
in  May.  Here  again  the  81st  pitched  tents  and  hoped  to 
abide.  But  this  hope,  like  most  of  its  predecessors,  was 
rudely  dispelled,  and  I  believe  that  here  ended  the  pitch 
ing  of  tents  and  establishment  of  permanent  camps  on  the 
part  of  the  81st  Ohio.  It  was  to  be  taught  new  lessons  in  war 
fare  ;  taught  to  have  no  abiding  place ;  to  despise  the  idle 
soldiers  who  dwelt  in  garrisons ;  to  march  as  never  they 
had  marched,  and  to  become  invincible,  not  only  in  their 
own  eyes,  but  in  the  eyes  of  the  world.  And  what  was  of 
most  consequence  to  the  cause,  they  were  to  be  taught  to 
become  irresistible  against  the  enemy.  So,  at  Rome,  the 
dear  old  custom  of  dwelling  in  established  camps  was  given 
up  by  the  81st  Ohio  forever. 

About  this  time  the  command  known  as  the  Left  Wing 
16th  Army  Corps,  comprising  the  2d  and  4th  Divisions  of 
the  Corps,  was  put  out  of  existence.  General  Dodge,  who 
for  so  long  a  time  had  been  its  able  commander,  had  not 
yet  returned,  being  kept  away  by  the  effects  of  his  severe 
wound.  General  Ransom,  his  successor,  the  brave,  genial, 
gallant  Illinoisan,  had  just  died,  literally  at  his  post,  and 
there  was  no  one  to  plead  for  the  old  command.  The  un 
yielding,  relentless  axe  of  military  necessity  fell,  and  the 
Left  Wing,  16th  Army  Corps,  ceased  to  be.  Its  compo 
nent  parts  were  divided  between  the  17th  and  15th  Corps. 


148  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  4th  Division,  General  Fuller,  went  to  the  17th  Corps. 
The  2d  Division,  General  Corse,  was  assigned  to  the  15th 
Corps,  and  its  number  was  changed  from  2d  to  4th. 

In  October,  Governor  Brough  made  two  appointments 
of  field  officers  for  the  81st.  Captain  W.  H.  Hill  to  be 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  vice  Titus  resigned,  and  Captain  "W. 
Clay  Henry  to  be  Major,  vice  Chamberlin,  resigned.  As  Col 
onel  Hill  was  still  absent  North, in  consequence  of  the  wound 
he  received  before  Atlanta,  the  command  of  the  regiment  re 
mained  with  Major  Henry,  who  had  commanded  it  since 
some  time  in  August. 

Hood  had  now  fairly  begun  his  great  work  of  forcing 
General  Sherman  back  to  Chattanooga.  He  sent  French's 
Division  to  capture  Allatoona,  but  that  officer  after  fight 
ing  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war,  retired,  dis 
comfited  by  a  single  Brigade,  under  the  gallant  Corse. 
For  a  time  there  was  much  apprehension  felt  for  the  result 
of  Hood's  bold  movement.  Atlanta  was  left  with  a  garri 
son  of  but  a  single  Division,  and  the  rest  of  Sherman's 
army  was  put  in  motion  northward  after  Hood.  General 
Corse's  brilliant  action  at  Allatoona  proved  that  it  was  to 
be  no  easy  task  to  subdue  the  men  who  had  been  the  con 
querors  in  the  four  months'  battle  just  ended,  and  Hood's 
purposes  were  thwarted.  He,  however,  made  an  attack  at 
Resaca,  and  actually  "repeated  history"  in  an  inverted 
manner,  by  displaying  precisely  the  tactics  shown  by  Sher 
man  in  May  previous.  After  attacking  Resaca  he  fell  back 
to  Snake  Creek  Gap,  and  occupied  the  works  which  we 
had  built.  But  his  plans  required  constant  movement,  as 
he  had  no  railroad  to  supply  his  army,  and  hence,  finding 
that  he  could  effect  nothing  by  attacks  along  the  line  of 
the  railroad,  he  deflected  westwardly  into  Alabama,  where, 
after  a  brief  pursuit,  Sherman  let  him  go  to  seek  his  own 
destruction,  while  he  set  about  maturing  preparations  for 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLrf.  149 

his  "  grand  march  to  the  sea."  In  all  these  movements  the 
81st  Ohio  had  remained  at  Rome,  performing  garrison  duty. 

On  the  llth  day  of  November,  1864,  at  6  A.  M.,  the  81st 
Ohio  left  Rome  to  begin  the  longest  march  ever  yet  at 
tempted  by  our  army.  Passing  a  few  miles  beyond  King 
ston,  the  regiment  encamped.  The  next  day  the  march 
was  continued  a  few  miles  beyond  Allatoona.  On  the  13th 
it  reached  Marietta.  There  were  by  this  time  abundant 
evidences  that  there  was  to  be  no  backward  movement, 
and  no  communication  with  the  rear.  Rome,  Kingston, 
Acworth  and  Marietta  were  more  or  less  destroyed  by  fire ; 
the  railroad  was  torn  up  and  surplus  stores  of  our  own 
were  burned.  On  the  14th  the  regiment  crossed  the  Chat- 
tahoochee  and  bivouacked  at  Turner's  Ferry,  and  on  the 
following  day  passed  through  Atlanta,  encamping  for  the 
night  four  miles  south  of  the  city.  Many  members  of  the 
regiment  took  occasion  to  view  again  their  battle  ground, 
the  graves  of  comrades,  the  works  of  both  parties,  the 
dead  line,  where  the  pickets  waged  their  incessant  warfare, 
and  the  "  pits  "  in  which  they  had  lain  for  security  in  the 
time  of  the  "  siege/'  On  this  day  the  final  destruction  of 
Atlanta  occurred.  The  bursting  of  shell  in  the  depot 
buildings,  the  burning  of  the  solid  blocks  in  the  business 
part  of  the  town,  the  gratis  distribution  of  clothing,  which 
otherwise  would  have  been  burned,  were  all  witnessed  by 
the  regiment;  and  at  night,  four  miles  away,  the  light  of 
the  still  burning  city  was  sufficient  to  enable  them  to  read 
letters.  The  railroad,  of  course,  was  all  destroyed ;  the 
Division  train  had  been  loaded  with  fifteen  days'  rations 
of  hard  bread,  and  eighty  of  salt.  Every  soldier  who  knew 
this  fact,  knew  its  significance — that  it  meant  a  long  march 
without  a  base  of  supplies — a  march  through  the  enemy's 
country. 

On  the  IGth  of  November,  the  81st  marched  twenty-six 
mileR.  encamping  eight  miles  south -west  of  Jonesboro. 


150  HISTORY    OF  THE 

Passing  through  McDonough  and  Jackson,  the  regiment 
reached  the  Ocmulgee  river  at  a  point  called  Ocnmlgee 
Mills,  and  crossed  in  rear  of  the  15th  Corps,  on  the  19th. 
Here  a  cotton  factory  and  grist  mill  belonging  to  a  bitter 
rebel,  originally  from  the  North,  were  burned.  The  owner 
stoutly  disowned  any  displeasure,  assuring  our  men  that 
with  all  their  vandalism,  they  could  not  hurt  his  pocket. 

On  the  21st,  the  81st  passed  through  Monticello  and  en 
camped  a  short  distance  from  Hillsborough.  The  roads 
were  in  such  awful  condition  from  the  continuous  rain,  that 
progress  was  slow.  In  the  four  days  ending  with  the  21st, 
the  regiment  had  marched  but  about  thirty-two  miles. 
There  had  been,  however,  an  abundance  of  forage  and  pro 
visions,  and  the  men  were  in  excellent  spirits. 

Following  this  period  of  rain  and  mud,  came  one  of 
Cold.  On  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  November,  ice  was 
found  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  There  was  hard 
pulling  for  the  teams,  and  a  pontoon  train,  which  marched 
that  day  before  the  81st,  stuck  in  the  mud  near  Clinton, 
about  sunset,  and  froze  there,  compelling  the  men  to  en 
camp  in  the  road  without  wood  or  water.  The  next  day 
the  81st  aided  the  pontoon  train  out  of  its  frozen  condition 
and  the  roads  improving,  better  time  was  made.  On  the 
24th  the  regiment  reached  the  Macon  and  Savannah  Kail- 
road  at  Gordon,  which  place  was  totally  destroyed.  This 
place  is  east  of  Macon,  and  south-west  of  Milledgeville, 
about  equi-distant  from  both.  Crossing  the  railroad,  and 
moving  south  two  miles  on  the  Jeffersonville  road,  the 
troops  encamped  for  the  rest  of  the  day,  only  having 
marched  about  six  miles.  It  was  the  National  Thanksgiv 
ing  Day,  and  many  a  thought  was  turned  Northward  to 
the  good  dinners  at  home,  while  the  bo}Ts,  so  far  away, 
were  taking  their  dinners  in  the  bivouac.  But  there  was 
far  from  a  famine  there;  turkey,  chicken,  honey,  sweet 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO   INFANTRY  VOLS. 

potatoes,  corn  cakes  and  other  Southern  delicacies  graced 
the  festal  boards  of  "  the  conquerors  "  that  day. 

On  the  25th,  the  march  was  resumed  on  the  Irwinton 
road,  the  81st  passing  through  that  town  and  burning  the 
Court  House  and  other  public  buildings,  and  also  a  lot  of 
cotton.  The  next  day  the  Oconee  river  was  reached  and 
crossed  at  Morning  Ferry,  on  a  pontoon  bridge.  Here  our 
boys  came  in  sight  of  growing  palms,  of  which  heretofore 
they  had  had  knowledge  only  by  the  fans  made  from  their 
leaves.  Spanish  Moss,  another  familiar  article,  was  here 
seen  growing.  Here  too,  they  were  introduced  to  the 
Southern  swamps ;  the  land  along  the  Oconee  was  found  to 
be  marshy.  Emerging  from  the  swampy  land  before 
night,  a  country  of  sand  and  pine  forests  was  nexl  reached 
Here  the  boys  found  abundance  of  pea  nuts,  just  ready  to 
be  eaten. 

On  the  28th  and  29th,  Col.  Adams'  Brigade  of  General 
Corse's  Division,  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  getting  lost. 
Being  in  advance  of  the  Corps,  Colonel  Adams  followed 
General  Corse,  who  was  following  General  Howard.  The 
latter  officer  led  them  all  astray.  At  night  of  the  28th 
they  were  fifteen  miles  away  from  the  rest  of  the  army, 
having  passed  all  day  through  the  most  God-forsaken 
country  they  had  yet  seen.  The  whole  route  was  through 
an  immense  pine  forest  with  a  swamp  every  mile  of  the 
way.  The  next  day  the  troops  moved  through  the  same 
kind  of  country;  the  swamps  are  said  to  be  the  source 
of  the  Ohoopee  river.  This  day  they  succeeded  in  getting 
on  the  right  road,  and  in  getting  near  other  troops.  These 
two  days'  march  were  made  mostly  in  Johnson  andEman- 
uel  counties.  The  same  unbroken  pine  forest  continued 
through  the  next  day's  march,  on  which,  the  town  of 
Somerville  was  passed.  At  night  the  regiment  encamped 
not  far  from  Hern  don.  December  1st  thev  moved  a  few 


15 '2  HISTORY  OF  THE 

miles  down  the  Ogeechee  river  and  encamped  near  Millen. 
On  the  2cl  and  3d  a  part  of  the  Division  operated  on  the 
railroad  near  Scarboro,  and  the  81st  acted  as  a  support. 
Here  the  first  defensive  works  of  this  campaign  were  con 
structed.  On  the  4th  the  regiment  moved  south  fifteen 
miles  over  good  roads,  and  through  finer  country  than  it 
had  passed  since  leaving  Gordon,  and  encamped  opposite 
Cameron.  The  17th  Corps  was  moving  down  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  and  became  engaged  with  the  enemy. 
The  sound  of  their  cannonading  was  distinctly  heard  by  the 
15th  Corps.  On  the  6th  the  regiment  encamped  about 
thirty-five  miles  from  Savannah.  The  country  was  of  the 
best  in  the  south,  and  the  scenery  such  as  the  northern 
soldiers  had  never  seen.  "  Live  Oaks"  in  their  evergreen 
beauty  were  abundant,  and  in  addition  to  their  foliage,  the 
boughs  of  all  the  trees  were  gracefully  festooned  by  the 
''Spanish  Moss."  In  the  midst  of  this  wealth  of  natural 
loveliness,  the  red  blossom  of  War  was  to  re-appear  to  our 
heroes  who  had  hitherto  had  a  bloodless  march. 

On  the  7th  the  regiment  moved  to  a  point  opposite  Eden, 
on  the  Savannah  Eaiiroad.  The  1st  Brigade  of  Gen.  Corse's 
Division  crossed  the  river  and  found  a  force  of  the  enemy 
in  their  front.  The  gallant  2d  lowacharged  and  took  a  line 
of  their  works,  capturing  twenty-eight  of  their  men.  Its  loss 
was  two  killed  and  five  wounded.  On  the  8th  the  whole 
Division  moved  without  supply  train,  but  with  two  days' 
rations  in  their  haversacks.  They  crossed  the  river,  struck 
the  railroad  at  Eden,  and  then  moved  south  until  they 
reached  the  Ogeechee  Canal,  near  the  Big  Ogeechee  river. 

On  the  next  day  the  Second  Brigade  was  ordered  to 
advance  on  the  enemy,  who  occupied  a  well  fortified 
position  between  the  two  Ogeechee  rivers.  The  66th 
Illinois  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  the  Brigade 
moved,  coming  upon  the  rebel  works  which  were  defended 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  153 

by  a  section  of  artillery.  A  charge  was  made  resulting  in 
the  capture  of  one  piece  of  artillery  and  a  number  of 
prisoners,  and  in  driving  the  remainder  until  night.  In 
this  action,  our  loss  was  slight,  the  81st  Ohio  losing  none, 
the  66th  and  12th  Illinois  each  lost  four  men  wounded. 
The  enemy  numbered  about  fifteen  hundred,  and  had  every 
advantage  of  position  and  works,  but  they  were  driven 
from  them  by  the  first  efforts  of  our  skirmish  line.  The 
same  day  the  Brigade  captured  a  train  on  the  Savannah 
and  Gulf  Railroad  with  the  President  of  the  road  and  other 
passengers.  The  train  was  heard  coming  out  from  Savan 
nah  when  it  was  a  considerable  distance  away.  Three 
mounted  men  were  immediately  dispatched  to  displace  a 
rail  in  advance  of  the  engine.  They  succeeded  in  doing 
their  work ;  the  train  came  on  in  front  of  the  Brigade, 
whereupon  a  loose  fire  was  opened  upon  it,  which  only 
served  to  increase  the  speed.  Soon  the  engineer  saw  the 
break  in  the  track  and  thinking  to  escape  by  running 
back  into  Savannah,  he  reversed  and  started  back.  Tho 
Brigade  was  too  far  away  to  prevent  him  by  its  fire,  and 
he  would  have  succeeded,  but  for  the  thoughtfulness  of  a 
soldier  who  happened  to  find  a  citizen's  mule  team  near  a 
road  crossing.  He  drove  the  wagon  on  the  track  and  shot 
the  mules,  forming  a  complete  blockade.  By  the  time  the 
train  reached  this,  re-inforcements  came  up  and  the  train 
was  a  prize.  Colonel  Adams  made  prisoners  of  the  male 
passengers,  gallantly  released  the  ladies  unconditionally, 
and  burned  the  cars. 

Picket  and  slight  reconnoisances  occupied  the  time  from 
the  9th  until  the  13th  of  December,  on  which  day  the  81st 
was  ordered  to  take  up  a  position  and  fortify.  Moving  out 
to  the  place  designated,  it  was  found  to  be  but  about  seven 
hundred  yards  from  one  of  the  enemy's  large  forts.  The 
enemy  discovered  the  movement  and  threw  shells.  One 
of  them  struck  Private  Fletcher  B.  Haynes.  Company  C, 
13 


154  HISTORY  OF  THE 

on  the  shoulder  and  back,  inflicting  a  wound  of  which  he 
died  on  the  18th.  This  was  the  only  loss  sustained  by  the 
regiment  in  the  whole  campaign.  On  this  day  General 
Hazen  opened  communication  with  the  fleet  in  Ossabaw 
Sound  by  the  capture  of  Fort  McAllister.  Repeated  efforts 
were  made  by  Colonel  Adams  to  find  a  crossing  of  the 
Little  Ogcechcc,  which  indeed,  was  a  desirable  object,  as 
the  enemy  held  the  opposite  side.  On  the  night  of  the 
13th,  Companies  E.  and  F.  were  detailed  as  a  sort  of  forlorn 
hope  to  make  the  crossing  at  the  Railroad  Bridge.  They 
found  the  bridge  burning,  and  attempted  to  stop  the  flames, 
but  after  a  number  of  them  had  gone  on  the  bridge,  a  party 
of  rebels  on  the  opposite  bank  fired  a  volley  into  them 
which  did  no  harm.  The  men  of  these  companies  then 
fell  back  behind  the  abutment,  and  thus,  not  more  than 
thirty  yards  from  the  rebels,  kept  up  a  fire  until  they  were 
able  to  get  away  unperceived. 

From  about  the  12th  of  December,  the  troops  began  to 
feel  the  want  of  sufficient  supplies.  Lying  as  they  did  in 
close  proximity,  and  in  a  country  nearly  covered  with 
water,  it  was  found  to  be  impossible  to  keep  the  commis 
sariat,  as  full  as  when  marching  through  a  plenteous 
country.  Corn  meal  was  the  sole  article  of  food  for  several 
days,  and  after  that,  unhulled  rice  was  the  simple  diet  of 
the  army  for  nearly  a  week.  Although  General  Hazen 
had  opened  communication  on  the  13th,  and  the  soldiers 
had  evidence  of  it  in  the  very  welcome  mail  that  began 
to  arrive  on  the  16th,  yet  owing  to  the  difficulties  of 
transportation  in  that  tide  and  swamp  covered  country,  it 
was  impossible  to  bring  up  supplies,  No  wonder  then 
that  the  troops  looked  anxiously  forward  to  the  capture  of 
Savannah. 

At  9  P.  M.  of  the  19th,  Lieutenant  Pittman  with  ten 
men,  succeded  in  effecting  a  crossing  of  the  Little  Ogeechee. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  155 

The  boat  he  used — the  only  one  that  could  be  found — was 
brought  to  him  that  night  by  Captain  McCain,  assisted  by 
Sergeant  Charles  Brennan,  Corporal  William  L.  Ward  and 
Private  Jamison  Mayberry,  of  Company  E,  and  Private 
William  E.  Walker,  of  Company  H,  who  had  volunteered 
to  take  the  terrible  risk  of  floating  in  it  a  mile  and  a  half 
down  the  Ogeechee  river,  between  the  Rebel  and  Union 
picket  lines,  passing  so  near  a  rebel  fort  as  to  be  able  to 
hear  distinctly  their  conversation.  But,  by  good  fortune, 
the  daring  little  party  passed  in  safety,  and  brought  the 
much  needed  boat  to  Lieutenant  Pittman.  He  explored 
the  ground — Sergeant  Mason  and  two  men  actually  get 
ting  in  rear  of  the  enemy — and  reported  that  a  crossing 
by  a  force  could  easily  be  made.  On  receiving  Lieutenant 
Pittman's  report,  Colonel  Adams  desired  to  cross  with  his 
Brigade,  but  General  Osterhaus  would  not  permit  it. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  of  December,  the  81st  Ohio, 
with  the  rest  of  the  Brigade,  had  the  extreme  satisfaction 
of  marching  into  the  city  of  Savannah.  General  Hardee 
had,  during  the  previous  night,  evacuated  the  place, 
leaving  large  amounts  of  munitions  of  war  to  fall  into  our 
hands.  Thus  was  ended  successfully,  Sherman's  grand 
march  lt  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea'' — a  march  which  will 
ever  be  memorable  in  history  as  the  boldest  and  most 
extraordinary  on  record.  Well  may  the  veterans  who 
composed  that  army,  lift  their  heads  in  just  pride  in  recol 
lection  of  the  part  they  took  in  this  famous  march. 

The  81st  Ohio  in  this  campaign,  marched  over  three 
hundred  miles,  starting  from  Rome.  It  was  entirely  with 
out  communication  with  the  North  from  the  14th  of  Novem 
ber  until  the  16th  of  December.  There  were,  in  this  time, 
about  twenty-five  marching  days,  averaging  nearly  fifteen 
miles  a  day,  yet  in  all  this  time,  there  was  no  loss,  except 
one,  mortally  wounded  before  Savannah,  on  the  13th  of 
December. 


156  HISTORY  OF  THE 

On  the  23d  of  December,  the  regiment  went  into  camp 
on  the  Thunderbolt  Road,  near  the  city,  and  the  next  day, 
the  15th  Army  Corps  was  reviewed  in  the  city,  by  General 
Sherman.  It  was  a  triumphal  march — a  stinging  eye-sore 
to  the  resident  rebels  who  from  their  closed  windows  stole 
views  of  their  hated  conquerors. 

Now  came  a  brief  season  of  rest.  From  the  fatigue  of 
the  march,  and  the  starving  of  the  last  few  days  before 
communication  was  fully  established,  Savannah  was  a 
welcome  resting  place.  In  addition  to  the  full  fare  granted 
by  a  liberal  "  Uncle  Sam,"  the  boys  had  such  feasts 
of  oysters  and  fresh  fish  as  many  of  them  had  never 
dreamed  of.  Supplies  of  clothing  were  issued,  long  letters 
were  written  home,  telling  each  to  an  interested  group 
away  North,  how  the  writer  bore  his  part  in  the  "  great 
inarch,"  and  every  arriving  vessel  brought  rich,  full  mail 
sacks  that  were  as  good  as  gold  to  these  far  off  soldiers.  So 
the  time  wore  on  :  fatigue  duty  now  and  then  in  building 
new  defenses  to  the  city;  absolute  rest  for  many  days, 
another  review  on  the  7th  of  January,  and  finally,  on  the 
17th,  the  portentous  order  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a 
moment's  notice. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  General  Logan  resumed  command 
of  the  15th  Corps.  He  had  a  leave  of  absence  after  the 
fall  of  Atlanta,  and  did  not  re-join  the  army  before  Sherman 
broke  loose  from  his  communications  ;  so  he  had  to  sail  to 
Savannah  to  meet  his  command.  General  Osterhaus  com 
manded  the  Corps  during  the  march. 


EIGIITY-FIRST   OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  157 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THROUGH    THE    CAROLINAS   TO    PEACE. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1865,  the  81st  Ohio  moved  from 
SavannahjCrossingtheSavannah  river  on  pontoons  toHutch- 
inson's  Island,  but  owing  to  the  unprecedented  rain,  it  was 
found  impossible  to  proceed  in  that  direction,  and  the  reg 
iment  returned  to  its  old  quarters  the  same  day.  Rain 
fell  for  several  days,  and  the  movement  seemed  indefinitely 
delayed.  However,  on  the  28th  of  January,  the  81st  Ohio 
— the  last  regiment  of  Sherman's  army  in  the  city — moved 
out  and  marched  to  near  Eden.  In  the  next  two  days  the 
march  was  continued  northward,  and  the  regiment,  at  the 
end  of  that  time,  reached  Sister's  Ferry,  on  the  Savannah 
river. 

On  the  evening  of  February  4th,  the  regiment  crossed 
the  Savannah  river  into  South  Carolina  at  Sister's  Ferry. 
The  event  of  entering  upon  the  sacred  soil  of  South  Caro 
lina  was  signalized  by  the  army  in  away  that  showed  how 
they  appreciated  the  active  part  that  State  had  taken  in 
the  inauguration  of  secession  and  civil  war.  Every  man 
seemed  to  foreknow  that  the  day  of  retribution  had  come, 
and  that  this  army  was  to  be  the  avenging  instrument. 
As  the  regiments  set  foot  on  the  soil  of  the  Palmetto  State, 
they  began  cheering  long  and  loud,  and  kept  it  up  contin 
uously  for  several  hours.  If  the  spirit  of  Treason  could  have 
heard  that  shout,  it  would  certainly  have  known  that  it 
was  its  death -knell. 

The  beginning  of  this  march  presented  difficulties  which 
grew  and  continued  almost  throughout  its  entire  length. 
The  Savannah  campaign  had  been  made  with  scarcely  any 
organized  enemy  to  hinder  the  march  ;  but  here,  in  addi- 


158  HISTORY   OF   THE 

tion  to  the  natural  obstacles,  the  collected  forces  of  the 
now  bisected  Confederacy  were  at  hand  to  take  possession 
of  every  river  and  other  defensible  position  in  the  country. 
But  this  was  the  least  of  Sherman's  troubles.  The  route 
was  over  a  country  which  the  rebel  Generals  have  since 
declared  they  believed  to  be  impracticable  for  an  army  to 
pass.  Evidences  of  this  came  with  the  first  day's  march. 
Heavy  details  were  made  to  build  corduroy  roads  through 
the  swamp,  and  at  night  the  men  encamped  but  a  few 
miles  from  their  starting  place,  wearied  with  the  heavy 
labor.  The  enemy's  cavalry  was  watchful,  too,  and  picked 
off  whatever  stragglers  they  could  find.  They  took  no 
prisoners.  On  the  6th,  the  mounted  foragers  of  Colonel 
Adams'  Brigade  came  upon  two  murdered  soldiers  belong 
ing  to  the  20th  Army  Corps. 

Havingpassed  through  llobertsville,the  regiment  reached 
Hickory  Hill  P.  0.,  on  the  7th,  and  crossed  there  a  swamp  of 
one  mile  in  width,  dignified  by  the  name  of  Coosawatchie 
river.  On  the  9th  the  regiment  reached  the  Salkehatchie 
river,  at  River's  Bridge,  where  Generals  Mower  and  Smith, 
with  their  Divisions  of  the  17th  Corps,  made  a  charge 
through  water  waist  deep,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  their 
position.  On  the  10th  of  February  better  roads  were 
reached,  and  on  the  smooth  table-land  a  march  of  twenty- 
two  miles  was  made,  the  regiment  passing  Buford's  Bridge. 
The  whole  army  was  now  concentrated  along  the  Charles 
ton  and  Augusta  Eailroad,  which  was  effectually  destroyed. 

Taking  the  Orangeburg  road,  on  the  llth,  the  regiment 
again  made  a  good  march,  still  on  the  table-lands,  and  cross 
ed  the  South  Edisto  river  at  Benaker's  Bridge.  On  the  12th, 
they  reached  the  North  Edisto  river,  where  the  enemy 
was  posted  to  dispute  the  crossing;  but  the  next  morning 
a  skirmish  line  cleared  the  way,  and  the  troops  crossed 
about  three  miles  from  Orangeburg.  Taking  the  main 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  159 

Columbia  road,  the  regiment  marched  eighteen  miles 
through  a  "tar  and  turpentine"  region,  encamping  at 
night  at  Little  Beaver  Creek.  On  the  15th,  the  regiment 
reached  Congaree  Creek,  where  the  enemy  contested  the 
crossing  of  the  advance  of  the  Corps.  This  was  but  five 
miles  from  Columbia. 

On  the  16th,  the  Congaree  being  crossed,  the  whole 
Corps  moved  across  the  plain  in  full  view  of  the  city,  and 
formed  line  of  battle,  the  right  resting  on  the  Congaree 
River,  and  the  left  on  the  Saluda.  Considerable  skirmish 
ing  and  shelling  ensued,  but  the  main  line  did  not  become 
engaged.  On  the  next  day  the  city  was  formally  surren 
dered  by  the  Mayor. 

After  passing  through  Columbia,  there  were  several 
days  of  destruction  ot  railroad  and  of  slow  and  circuitous 
marching.  On  the  24th,  Colonel  Adams  was  sent  with 
Ins  Brigade,  with  instructions  to  take  Camden  and  destroy 
public  property  there.  Not  long  after  leaving  the  main 
column,  he  encountered  some  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
which  he  steadily  drove  for  a  distance  of  five  miles.  Ono 
company  of  cavalry  was  assigned  to  him,  which  he  used 
to  protect  his  flanks.  By  a  little  rashness  of  theirs,  fourteen 
of  these  were  captured  by  the  enemy.  Throwing  forward 
a  heavy  skirmish  line,  supported  by  the  12th  Illinois^ 
Colonel  Adams  placed  the  66th  Illinois  in  reserve,  and 
sent  the  81st  Ohio  on  another  road  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  an  attack  in  the  rear.  By  this  time  the  enemy 
had  taken  a  position  in  his  front,  behind  a  barricade  on 
"Hobkirk's  Hill,"  of  Revolutionary  interest.  Having  all 
things  ready,  Colonel  Adams  ordered  forward  !  and,  after 
skirmishing  a  short  time,  a  charge,  which  was  gallantly 
and  successfully  made.  Gaining  the  hill,  lie  continued 
the  charge,  now  turned  into  a  pursuit,  through  the  streets 
of  the  town,  capturing  twelve  of  the  enemy  and  re-cap 
turing  the  fourteen  cavalry  men  who  had  been  lost  that 


160  HISTORY  OF  THE 

clay.  Even  the  citizens  were  armed,  and  fired  at  the 
troops  as  they  entered  the  town.  He  immediately  began 
the  work  of  destruction,  burning  a  large  depot  of  commis 
sary  stores,  consisting  of  flour,  meal,  bacon,  sugar,  &c. 
He  also  committed  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  flames  two 
thousand  bales  of  cotton  and  other  property.  Colonel 
Adams'  command  found  plenty  of  good  cheer,  and  the 
inhabitants  made  lavish  offers  of  good  things  to  eat  and 
drink,  which  the  hungry  soldiers  accepted,  asking  no 
questions.  Leaving  Camden  that  night,  the  Brigade 
joined  the  main  column  the  next  day. 

On  the  25th,  the  regiment  encamped  at  "  Pine  Tree 
Meeting  House,"  on  Little  Lynch's  Creek.  The  next 
day  they  marched  to  Tiller's  Bridge,  where  a  crossing  was 
made.  The  stream  was  nearly  a  mile  wide,  and  was  rising 
so  that  the  trains  could  not  cross.  The  troops,  however, 
•waded  over,  enjoying  many  a  hearty  laugh  as  the  mounted 
were  thrown  headlon  from  their  horses  into  the 


water. 


On  this  day,  the  mounted  foragers  of  the  2d  Brigade 
were  in  a  sharp  skirmish.  About  five  hundred  rebel  cav 
alry  attacked  them  as  they  were  returning  across  Lynch's 
Creek  with  their  wagons  loaded  with  forage.  Making  a 
stubborn  defense,  they  saved  the  wagons,  although  they 
had  a  hand  to  hand  struggle.  Corporal  Elijah  Davis, 
Company  I,  81st  Ohio,  received  five  sabre  cuts  about  the 
head.  Our  boys  were  opportunely  re-enforced  by  the 
foragers  of  the  1st  and  3d  Brigades,  and  the  rebels  were 
driven  off  with  the  loss  of  sixteen  killed  and  some  prisoners. 

The  bridging  of  this  stream  required  some  time,  and  it 
was  not  until  March  1st  that  the  trains  had  crossed,  and 
the  movement  was  continued.  The  regiment  moved  but 
eight  miles,  and  encamped  on  Black  Creek.  On  the  2d, 
the  regiment  did  not  move,  General  Howard  retaining  it  as 
a  guard  for  his  Head  Quarters,  but  on  the  3d,  it  marched 


EIGHTY- FIRST   OHIO   INFANTRY   VOLS.  161 

twenty  miles  on  the  Cheraw  road,  encamping  at  Thomp 
son's  Creek.  The  next  day  it  went  into  camp  on  the 
Pedee  Eiver,  one  mile  from  Cheraw.  On  the  6th,  the 
regiment  moved  through  Cheraw,  halting  a  while  in  the 
streets.  There  had  been,  during  the  previous  day  or  two, 
a  large  amount  of  ammunition  and  powder  thrown  into 
ditches,  and  other  places  where  it  could  be  destroyed. 
A  large  quantity,  it  seems,  was  thrown  into  one  gully  and 
was  not  yet  dampened.  Near  it  small  quantities  of  loose 
powder  were  lying  on  the  ground,  which  the  soldiers  were 
burning  for  their  amusement.  By  some  means  the  large 
quantity  was  ignited,  and  there  was  a  tremendous  ex 
plosion. 

Surgeon  W.  C.  Jacobs  thus  writes  of  it: 

"  Chips,  mud,  sticks  and  stones  fell  in  every  direction  ; 
the  smoke  for  a  time  hid  every  thing  from  view,  and  I  found 
myself  going  up  street  at  no  very  dignified  pace.  Upon 
examination  I  found  1  was  not  hurt,  and  then  1  began  to 
look  for  the  wounded.  Lawrence  Smith,  of  Company  I), 
81st  Ohio,  was  crushed  to  death  by  a  falling  building. 
Corporal  Wyman,  of  the  same  company,  had  a  leg  frac 
tured.  It  is  estimated  that  at  least  three  tons  of  powder 
were  consumed  in  the  explosion.  Not  a  window  was  left 
unbroken  in  the  town." 

On  the  7th  of  March,  the  regiment  moved  on  the  Fay- 
etteville  road  te«  miles,  and  encamped  at  Goodwin's  Mills. 
The  next  day  the  regiment  passed  through  a  little  town 
called  Springfield,  and  soon  after  crossed  the  line  between 
Nohth  and  South  Carolina.  As  soon  as  the  old  North 
State  was  entered,  guards  were  placed  at  each  house  as 
the  column  passed,  with  strict  instructions  to  allow  no 
one  whatever  to  enter,  but  soldiers  were  not  prohibited 
from  taking  provisions  from  out-houses.  This  was  in 
deference  to  the  supposed  loyalty  of  these  people. 

On  the  9th,  there  was  a  harassing  and  wearisome  march 
through  rain  and  mud.  Laurel  Hill  was  passed,  and  so 


162  HISTORY   OF  THE 

muddy  were  the  roads,  that  when  night  overtook  the 
trains,  they  found  it  impossible  to  proceed,  and  so,  corralled 
in  the  road  or  alongside,  wherever  they  could  find  the 
ground  solid  enough  to  keep  them  from  sinking  out  of 
sight.  The  next  day,  Lumber  River  was  crossed,  and  the 
Brigade  went  into  camp  early,  sending  the  12th  Illinois 
forward  to  repair  road.  Wretched  as  were  the  roads  and 
the  weather,  yet,  as  the  troops  knew  they  were  marching 
toward  the  North  and  toward  communications  with  the 
"  cracker  lino,"  as  well  as  with  their  friends  at  home,  they 
performed  the  heaviest  labor  with  great  cheerfulness. 
Realizing  the  necessity  of  the  work,  they  felt  and  mani 
fested  a  pride  in  being  equal  to  the  great  occasion. 

On  the  llth,  the  regiment  moved  over  about  sixteen 
miles,  eleven  of  which  were  corduroy.  The  whole  surface 
of  the  country  seemed  to  be  covered  with  water.  This 
road  is  said  to  be  the  same  that  General  Greene  made  in 
1776.  Encamped  on  Little  Fish  Creek,  thirteen  miles 
from  Fayettevillc.  On  the  12th,  a  march  of  fourteen  miles 
brought  the  regiment  to  its  camping  place  near  Fayette 
ville.  Here  supplies  were  received,  and  New  York  papers 
of  the  6th,  containing  much  news  of  great  interest  from 
the  outer  world. 

On  the  15th,  the  regiment  moved  in  the  direction  of 
Goldsboro',  reaching  South  River,  where  the  7th  Iowa  and 
Battery  H,  First  Missouri  Light  Artillery  had  a  slight 
engagement  with  the  enemy,  who  disputed  the  crossing 
with  a  small  force  and  one  piece  of  artillery.  On  the.mjxt 
day  the  81st  Ohio  had  the  advance  of  the  whote.  Corps. 
Crossing  South  River,  they  had  advanced  but  a  few  miles 
over  miserable  roads,  until  they  encountered  the  enemy, 
and  a  spirited  skirmish  ensued.  As  soon,  however,  as 
Battery  "  II  "  opened,  the  enemy  left.  Corporal  Samuel 
T.  Wiley,  81st  Ohio,  was  wounded  in  the  knee,  which  was 
the  only  damage  sustained  b}'  the  regiment.  Encamped 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  163 

that  night  at  Ray's  Church.  On  the  17th,  a  short  march 
was  made  to  Beaman's  Cross  Roads.  The  next  day  the 
regiment  moved  to  a  point  within  28  miles  of  Goldsboro, 
passing  througli  a  very  abundant  country — a  state  of 
affairs  highly  acceptable  to  the  men,  as  the  scanty  sup 
ply  of  rations  received  at  Fayetteville  was  already  ex 
hausted. 

The  19th  of  March  was  a  battle  day.  Johnston  had  con 
centrated  his  forces  with  the  bold  attempt  of  thwarting  Gen. 
Sherman  and  impeding  his  march.  General  Slocum  en 
countered  him  first,  and  the  heavy  and  rapid  cannonading 
told  that  it  was  no  mere  skirmish.  There  was  a  rapid 
concentration  of  General  Sherman's  forces.  Passing  Fall 
ing  Creek  Church,  the  regiment  marched  until  10  P.  M., 
and  then  threw  up  a  line  of  works.  The  whole  Corps 
was  encamped  that  night  in  line  of  battle.  The  enemy 
had,  during  the  day,  made  several  bold  but  unsuccessful 
charges  on  Slocum.  On  the  20th,  the  whole  line  moved, 
so  that  before  night,  General  Sherman's  army  was  in  a 
semi-circular  line  completely  enveloping  Johnston,  except 
his  rear,  which  was  cut  off  by  the  Keuse  River.  The  left 
of  the  army,  consisting  of  the  14th  Army  Corps,  joined 
on  the  Neuse,  above  Bentonville,  while  the  17th  Army 
Corps  touched  the  river  below,  and  the  15th  and  20th  were 
in  close  connection  between.  Thus  Johnston  was  put  upon 
the  defensive,  and  as  Schofield  and  Terry  were  coming 
up,  it  was  hoped  he  would  soon  be  completely  surrounded. 

On  the  21st,  the  lines  of  the  4th  Division,  15th  Corps, 
were  advanced  four  hundred  yards,  to  near  Mill  Creek, 
and  new  works  were  thrown  up,  under  heavy  fire  fi-orn  the 
enemy.  Here,  Robert  McDill,  Company  I,  was  wounded 
in  the  knee,  requiring  amputation.  Heavy  skirmish  firing 
continued  until  after  dark.  First  Sergeant  John  M. 
Henness  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  arm,  and  Privates 
Finical  and  Burwell,  of  Company  K.,  were  badly  wounded, 


164  HISTORY    OF    THE 

while  in  the  trenches,  by  an  accidental  shot  from  a  gun  in 
the  hands  of  one  of  their  comrades.  The  loss  in  the  Brigade 
was  two  killed  and  ten  wounded.  During  the  night  of 
the  21st,  the  enemy  evacuated  their  works  and  crossed  the 
Neuse. 

On  the  22d,  General  Sherman  issued  the  following  con 
gratulatory  order : 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,! 
In  the  Field  near  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  March  22,  1865.     [ 

The  Commanding  General  announces  to  this  Army  that 
yesterday  it  beat  on  its  chosen  ground  the  concentrated 
armies  of  our  enemy,  who  has  fled  in  disorder,  leaving  his 
dead,  wounded  and  prisoners  in  our  hands,  and  burning 
the  bridge  in  his  rear. 

On  the  same  day,  Major  General  Schofield,  from  New- 
bern,  entered  and  occupied  Goldsboro,  and  Major  General 
Terry,  from  Wilmington,  secured  Cox's  Bridge  crossing, 
and  laid  a  pontoon  bridge  across  Neuse  .River.  So  that 
our  campaign  has  resulted  in  a  glorious  success,  after  a 
march  of  the  most  extraordinary  character,  of  near  five 
hundred  miles  over  swamps  and  rivers  deemed  impassable 
to  others,  at  the  most  inclement  season  of  the  year,  and 
drawing  our  chief  supplies  from  a  poor  and  wasted  coun 
try. 

I  thank  the  army,  and  assure  it  that  our  Government 
and  people  honor  them  for  this  new  display  of  the  phys 
ical  and  moral  qualities  which  reflect  honor  upon  the 
whole  nation. 

You  shall  now  have  rest,  and  all  the  supplies  that  can 
be  brought  from  the  rich  granaries  and  storehouses  of  our 
magnificent  country,  before  again  embarking  on  new  and 
untried  dangers.  W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General  Commanding 

On  the  24th,  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  reached  Golds 
boro,  passing  in  review  through  the  town.  Perhaps  there 
never  was  a  review  like  this  one.  The  men  were  just  from 
their  unparalleled  march  of  five  hundred  miles,  and  were 
in  all  kinds  of  uniform  and  want  of  uniform.  Many 
were  without  shoes,  hats,  coats,  and  some  wore  pants  all 


EIGIITY-FIRST  OHIO  INFAN1RY  VOLS.  165 

too  short.  In  the  81st  Ohio,  the  shoeless  and  hatless  men 
were  all  placed  in  one  company,  and  in  this  manner  passed 
in  review  before  Sherman,  Schofield,  Terry,  Howard  and 
Logan,  with  more  pride  than  their  more  fortunate  com 
rades  who  wore  shoes  and  hats.  The  army  encamped 
near  the  city,  and,  of  course,  constructed  defensive  works. 

In  the  brief  rest  which  followed,  rations  soon  made  their 
appearance,  and  mail  came  again,  gladdening  the  hearts 
of  the  soldiers.  With  the  first  mail  came  a  number  of 
commissions  for  officers  and  men  of  the  81st  Ohio.  Ab 
sentees  and  recruits  here  joined  the  regiment,  coming 
around  by  way  of  New  York. 

The  81st  Ohio,  although  but  a  fraction  of  a  regiment  for 
more  than  a  year  in  the  beginning  of  its  existence,  had 
the  good  fortune,  in  1862  to  receive  more  recruits  than 
almost  any  other  regiment  in  the  service.  Again,  in  1864, 
enough  recruits  were  obtained  to  keep  up  the  waste  so 
far,  and  now,  in  1865,  such  a  large  number  was  obtained, 
that  two  entire  new  companies  were  formed,  besides 
furnishing  some  men  to  the  old  companies.  The  two  new 
companies  were  designated  B  and  C,  and  filled  the  gap 
which  had  existed  since  the  muster  out  of  those  companies 
in  1864.  The  raising  of  these  last  recruits  was  due  mainly 
to  the  untiring  energy  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  H.  Hill, 
who,  being  compelled  to  remain  North  during  all  the  fall 
and  winter,  in  consequence  of  his  wound,  and  of 
the  impossibility  of  reaching  the  army,  devoted  his  atten 
tion  to  securing  as  many  recruits  as  possible  for  the  regi 
ment.  When  these  recruits  joined  the  regiment  it  was 
again  swelled  to  a  size  unlike  any  other  regiments  in  the 
field,  and  was  able  to  show  fuller  ranks  at  the  end  of  the 
war  than  almost  any  other  four  years'  regiment  suffering 
as  many  losses. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  the  regiment  inarched  toward 
Raleigh,  going  the  first  day  as  far  as  Pikeville.  It  was  a 


166  HISTORY  OF  THE 

day,  or  rather  a  night,  long  to  be  remembered.  The  roads 
were  in  a  wretched  condition,  and  Colonel  Adams'  Brigade 
was  in  charge  of  the  train,  with  instructions  to  bring  it 
into  camp  before  stopping.  The  men  were  nearly  all 
detailed  to  aid  the  sinking  wagons,  and  to  repair  the 
roads.  Night  came,  and  still  the  train  was  a  long  distance 
behind.  Colonel  Adams  reported  the  state  of  affairs,  with 
a  view  to  getting  orders  to  encamp  and  rest,  but  he  re 
ceived  positive  orders  to  bring  the  train  into  Pikeville. 
He  dispatched  orderlies  to  hurry  up  the  command,  while 
he  and  a  portion  of  his  staff  and  escort  went  a  short 
distance  ahead,  and  built  fires  to  light  the  way.  While 
one  of  these  orderlies  was  returning,  he  was  killed  by 
some  rebel  cavalry  that  were  prowling  along  the  way. 
Another  was  captured,  but  afterward  made  his  escape.  It 
was  afterward  ascertained  that  Wheeler's  cavalry  com 
mand,  was  but  a  short  distance  away,  and  was  only 
prevented  from  falling  on  the  train  through  ignorance  of 
their  opportunity.  It  was  one  o'clock  before  the  train 
was  pulled  through,  and  the  men  laid  down  to  rest. 

On  the  llth  of  April,  the  regiment  reached  Saucer-eye 
Creek,  and  on  the  next  day,  at  Lowell's,  heard  of  the  sur 
render  of  Lee's  army.  That  night  it  encamped  near  Cedar 
Town.  On  the  13th,  it  crossed  NTeuse  River,  and  on  the 
14th  passed  through  Raleigh  and  went  into  camp.  The 
following  day  it  marched  to  Morrisville,  where  it  lay  until 
the  21st,  while  General  Sherman  was  negotiating  with 
Johnston,  and  then  marched  back  to  Raleigh. 

*         *          *          #          #         *        #        #        # 

The  work  was  done  !  the  long  agony  over !  the  War  was 
ended  !  But  no  pen  can  tell  the  feeling  of  joy  and  triumph 
that  flooded  every  heart  in  the  army,  as  the  war-worn 
soldiers  looked  forward  to  Peace  and  Home.  In  all  this 
army  there  was  not  a  man  who  did  not  justly  feel  that  he 
had  performed  a  hero's  part  in  the  closing  acts  of  the  war. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO   INFANTRY  VOLS.  167 

Marching  victoriously  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea,  and  through 
the  Carolinas  to  Peace,  they  had  challenged  the  admiration 
of  the  world,  and  had  achieved  distinction  in  all  future 
history.  It  was  fitting  that  such  grand  achievements 
should  culminate  in  so  desirable  a  result  as  the  utter 
overthrow  of  the  Rebellion  ;  and  though  the  glad  song  of 
triumph  and  victory  was  hushed  by  the  sad  story  of  the 
foul  murder  of  him  who  had  been  their  leading  star  of 
hope  and  promise  through  all  these  years  of  conflict,  it 
had  but  sanctified  their  work,  and  proved  beyond  all 
doubt,  that  the  Treason  they  had  just  crushed  was  the 
sum  of  all  crimes.  By  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln  the  army  was  made  to  see  how  intimately  he  had 
been  connected  with  them  in  the  struggle,  and  how  his 
blood  was  now  mingled  with  that  of  the  hosts  who  during 
the  war  had  given  their  lives  as  the  price  of  the  unity  of 
our  Government. 

"  Through  our  night  of  bloody  straggle, 

Ever  dauntless,  firm  and  true, 
Bravely,  gently  forth  he  led  us, 

Till  the  morn  burst  on  our  view — 
Till  he  saw  the  day  of  triumph, 

Saw  the  field  our  heroes  won  ; 
Then  his  honored  life  was  ended, 

Then  his  glorious  work  was  done." 

There  is  little  more  to  write.  The  war  being  ended, 
there  was  no  more  thought  of  campaigning.  The  29th  of 
April  had  become  a  historic  day  with  the  81st  Ohio.  In 
1862,  on  that  day  was  commenced  the  march  from  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  on  the  Corinth  Campaign.  In  1864,  on 
that  day,  the  regiment  started  from  Pulaski,  Tennessee, 
on  the  Atlanta  campaign;  and  now,  in  1865,  on  the  29th 
of  April,  the  81st  started  on  its  "  homeward  "  march.  No 
need  to  recall  the  incidents  of  this  march.  There  was  no 
war,  and  no  foraging — no  guards  on  the  look  out  for  an 
enemy,  no  burning  offences;  it  was  simply  a  race  to  see 


168  HISTORY  OF  THE 

what  Corps  should  march  to  Washington  first.  The  81st 
Ohio  reached  its  camp  near  Washington  on  the  20th  of 
May.  The  next  three  days  were  spent  in  preparation 
for  the  grand  review.  On  the  24th,  this  grandest  of  military 
pageants  was  seen  in  Washington.  On  that  day  Sherman's 
army  was  reviewed.  It  is  said  by  good  authority  that 
never  before  did  the  gallant  old  81st  make  so  fine  an  ap 
pearance  as  on  this,  the  last  great  field  day.  With  steady 
step,  and  firm  straight  forward  look,  the  men  marched 
with  such  regular  lines  as  to  challenge  again  and  again, 
the  admiration  of  the  crowds  who  thronged  the  streets, 
and  who  expressed  their  appreciation  by  repeated  cheers. 
Early  in  June  the  regiment  started  to  Louisville,  going 
by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  to  Parkersburgh, 
thence  by  the  Ohio  River.  Encamping  at  Woodlawn 
near  the  city,  the  boys  enjoyed  themselves  as  best  they 
could,  until  at  last,  came  the  welcome  order  to  muster  the 
regiment  out  of  the  service.  This  work  was  completed  on 
the  13th  of  July,  and  the  regiment  immediately  started  to 
Camp  Dennison  to  be  paid  and  discharged.  On  the  21st 
of  July  this  last  act  was  completed,  and  the  81st  Ohio  was 
no  more. 

•*  Thus  we  have  followed  the  fortunes  of  this  regiment  from 
its  first  scouting  over  the  prairies  of  Missouri;  through  its 
bloody  baptism  at  Shiioh  ;  its  march  into  Mississippi ;  its 
participation  in  the  battles  of  luka  and  Corinth;  its  garri 
son  duty  at  the  latter  place;  its  march  into  Northern  Ala 
bama;  its  brief  stay  at  Pocahontas;  its  march  to  Pulaski, 
and  duty  there ;  its  deeds  and  privations  in  the  historic 
Atlanta  campaign  ;  its  march  to  Rome ;  its  journey  to  the 
sea;  and,  finally,  its  march  from  Savannah  to  Kaleigh, 
Washington,  Louisville  and  Camp  Dennison,  whence  each 
man  went  his  way  to  his  home,  a  citizen.  It  may  be  truly 
said  that  in  all  these  scenes  and  actions,  the  81st  ever  bore 
an  honorable  part.  No  stain  rests  upon  the  courage  or 
devotedness  of  the  men  whose  deeds  are  here  recorded. 


EIGHTY -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS.  169 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE    BANK    AND    FILE    OF    THE    EIGHTY-FIRST    OHIO. 

In  the  following  pages  are  given  the  names  of  all  the 
officers  and  enlisted  men  ever  connected  with  tjie  regiment, 
so  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  obtain  them.  The  records 
of  Captain  Kinsell's  and  Captain  Hughes'  companies  could 
not  be  found,  and  hence  some  names  of  those  who  died  or 
were  discharged  from  these  companies,  before  the  consoli 
dation  in  1862,  do  not  appear. 

In  the  list  of  casualties  no  names  of  deserters  are  given. 
There  were  but  twenty-three  of  them  in  the  regiment 
during  its  entire  term  of  nearly  four  years'  service,  exclu 
sive  of  those  in  the  two  companies  organized  in  1865.  It 
was  not  thought  best  to  mar  this  Record  of  the  gallant 
and  faithful  many  by  placing  on  it  the  names  and  crime  of 
the  cowardly  and  recreant  few. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  record  of  companies  D,  E, 
P  and  E  are  not  so  full  as  that  of  the  others.  If  any 
member  of  these  companies  feels  aggrieved  by  the  omis 
sion  of  any  part  of  his  military  history,  he  must  cast  the 
blame  where  it  belongs.  Every  effort  was  made  to  obtain 
the  necessary  facts  from  those  companies,  but  without  suc 
cess  ;  and  finally  I  was  compelled  to  resort  to  the  muster- 
out  rolls. 


14 


170  UISTOKY  OF  THE 


OFFICERS   AND    NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    OF 
THE    FIELD    AND    STAFF. 

Colonel  THOMAS  MORTON,  appointed  Aug.  19,  '61 ;  re 
signed  July  30,  1864. 

Colonel  ROBERT  N.  ADAMS,  promoted  from  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  Aug.  12,  1864 ;  appointed  Brevet  Brigadier-Gen 
eral,  to  date  from  Mar.  13,  '65 ;  mustered  out  with  the  reg 
iment  July  13,  '65. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  JOHN  A.  TURLEY,  appointed  Aug. 

19,  '61;  resigned  Dec.  1,  '61. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  R.  N.  ADAMS,  promoted  from  Cap 
tain  May  7,  '62  ;  promoted  as  above. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  JAMES  W.  TITUS,  promoted  from  Cap- 
tian  Aug.  21,  '64 ;  resigned  Sept.  8,  '64. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  H.  HILL,  promoted  from  Captain 
Apr.  22,  '65 ;  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

Major  CHARLES  N.  LAMISON,  appointed  Aug.  19,  '61 ;  re 
signed  Apr.  22,  '62. 

Major  FRANK  EVANS,  promoted  from  Adjutant  May  18, 
'62  ;  resigned  June  27,  '64. 

Major  WILLIAM  H.  CHAMBERLIN,  promoted  from  Cap 
tain  Aug.  12,  '64  ;  resigned  Sept.  15,  '64. 

Major  WILLIAM  C.  HENRY,  promoted  from  Captain  Nov. 
1,  '64;  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

Surgeon  WILLIAM  H.  LAMME,  appointed  Nov.  27,  '61  ; 
resigned  Mar.  31,  '62. 

Surgeon  ROBERT  G.  McLEAN,  promoted  from  Assistant 
Surgeon  Mar.  31,  '62 ;  resigned  Nov.  6,  '62. 

Surgeon  WILLIAM  C.  JACOBS,  appointed  Dec.  23,  '62; 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

Assistant  Surgeon  EGBERT  G.  McLEAN,  appointed  Nov. 

20,  ?61  ;  promoted  as  above. 

Assistant  Surgeon  JOHN  WHITTAKER,  appointed  Aug. 
19,  '62;  resigned  Nov.  11,  '64. 

Assistant  Surgeon  HIRAM  SiiAFFER,appointed  Mar.  19/63; 
mustered  out  on  expiration  of  term  of  service,  Aug.24,'64. 

Chaplain  JAMES  YOUNG,  appointed  Feb.  1 1,  '63  ;  resigned 
Dec.  26,  '63. 

Adjutant  FRANK  EVANS,  appointed  Aug.  19,  '61;  pro 
moted  as  above. 

Adjutant  JOHN  R.  HUNT,  appointed  Sept.  9,  '62  ;  resigned 
Sept.  24,  '64. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS-FIELD  AND  STAI-F.    171 

Adjutant  CORNELIUS  C.  PLATTER,  promoted  from  2d 
Lieutenant  and  appointed  Adjutant  Nov.  1,  '64  ;  promoted 
to  Captain  and  assigned  to  Company  D  Mar.  28,  '65. 

Adjutant  WILLIAM  B.  RUSH,  promoted  from  Sergeant- 
Major  and  appointed  Adjutant  Mar.  28,  '65;  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment. 

Quartermaster  SAMUEL  E.  ADAMS,  appointed  Aug.  19,  '61; 
mustered  out  on  expiration  of  term  of  service,  Aug,  18, 
1864. 

Quartermaster  W.  A.  JOHNSON,  promoted  from  2d  Lieu 
tenant  June  27,  '64 ;  promoted  to  Captain  and  assigned  to 
Company  F  May  25,  '65. 

Quartermaster  JOHN  N.  HAYS,  promoted  from  Quarter 
master  Sergeant  Mar.  26,  '65 ;  appointed  Quartermaster 
Apr.  25,  65  ;  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

Non-commissioned  Staff  mustered  .out  with  the  Regiment 
July  13,  1865. — Sergeant -Major  CHARLES  W.  FOGLE  ;  Quar 
termaster  Sergeant  JOHN  T.  COLLIER;  Hospital  Steward 
CHARLES  SHOCK  ;  Principal  Musicians  JOHN  II.  BUELTEL 
and  WILLIAM  N.  MILLER;  Commissary-Sergeant  JOSEPH  S. 
CAMPBELL. 

Casualties   in   Non-commissioned   Staff. 

Died. — GEORGE  K.  HAGERMAN,  Principal  Musician,  at 
Columbia,  South  Carolina,  Feb.  17,  '65. 

Discharged  to  accept  Promotion. — Sergeant-Majors — JOHN 
R.  CHAMBERLIN,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Apr.  29,  '63, 
discharged  on  account  of  ph}Tsical  disability  Apr.  6,  '64; 
WILLIAM  PITTMAN,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  June  20, 
1864  ;  WILLIAM  M.  MURPHY,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant 
Aug.  15,  '64  ;  WILLIAM  B.  RUSH,  promoted  to  1st  Lieuten 
ant  Mar.  26,  '65;  SUMNER  F.  MASON,  promoted  to  2d  Lieu 
tenant  May  24,  '65.  Commissary-Sergeant  C.  B.  VAN 
PELT,  promoted  to  Quartermaster-Sergeant  Mar.  26,  1865. 
Quartermaster-Serg'ts — CORNELIUS  C.  PLATTER,  promoted 
to  2d  Lieutenant  June  27,  '64;  THOMAS. J.  HARBAUGH,  pro 
moted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Aug.  19,  '64;  JOHN  N.  HAYS,  pro 
moted  to  1st  Lieutenant  Mar.  26,  '65  ;  CORWIN  B.  VAN 
PELT,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  May  24,  '65. 

Discharged  upon  Expiration  of  Term  of  Service. — Hospital 
Stewards — DAVID  W.  LAM  ME,  Dec.  12,  ?64,  and  WILLIAM  D. 
STEPHENS,  May  25,  '65.  Principal  Musicians — RICHARD 
LAYCOX,  Oct.  7.  '<>4.  and  ASBUUY  L.  STEPHENS.  Mav  2fi,  '65. 


172  HESTORY  OF  THE 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Quartermaster-Sergeant  WAL  - 
KER  W.  McCLAiN,  Feb.  17,  '62,  and  Commissary-Sergeant 
ANDREW  K.  BOGGS;  place  and  date  not  known. 

No  Record  Found. — Commissary-Sergeant  P.  B.  AYERS. 

Returned  to  Company. — Commissary-Sergeant  DAVIS  E. 
JAMES,  May,  1864. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  COMPANY  A,  81ST  OHIO,  OR 
GANIZED  AT  LIMA,  ALLEN  COUNTY,  OHIO,  SEPTEM 
BER,  1862,  BY  CAPTAIN  W.  H.  HILL. 

Captain  WILLIAM  II.  HILL,  First  Lieutenant  DAVID  S. 
VAN  PELT,  Second  Lieutenant  TIMOTHY  SHAFFER. 

Sergeants. — First  Sergeant  Adam  C.  Post;  Joseph  II. 
Harbison,  Charles  W.  Fogle,  George  W.  Enboden,  Theo 
dore  G-.  McDonald. 

Corporals. — William  P.  DeHart,  William  A.  J.  Moorman, 
William  M.  Lochhead,  Richard  W.  Vance,  Fielding  Ton- 
guet,  John  Hill,  William  Adams,  Samuel  Martin. 
3  Musicians. — William  Miller,  Hervey  Wicks. 

Teamster. — Hiram  Armitage. 

Privates. — Irwin  Allspaw,  Benjamin  F.  Allison,  Hamil- 
ine  Bice,  William  Bennett,  Andrew  Brenning,  William 
Boyer,  Jesse  W.  Baird,  David  B.  Buckles,  George  W.  Bi- 
ner,  John  A.  Bird,  Isaac  Counts,  Emanuel  Carolus,  George 
W.  Carey,  William  Culver,  Samuel  P.  Cheatwood,  George 
H.  Cheatwood,  Wesley  Coon.  James  Cook.  Abraham  De- 
coursey,  James  Davis,  Andrew  Davis,  Alexander  Emmons, 
John  Eisenbice,  Ferdinand  Eisenbico,  Joseph  J.  Ferl,  Jo 
seph  I.  Fair,  Isaac  Gatton,  James  S.  Garver,  William  R. 
Gordon,  Henry  Garee,  Lorenzo  D.  Harter,  Charles  B. 
Hoguc,  Allen  Jamison,  David  Lee,  Peter  Lies,  Solomon  B. 
Miller,  Martin  Miller,  Tobias  Miller,  Solomon  P.  Miller, 
Isaac  N.  Miller,  Henry  C.  Miller,  Jacob  M.  Moorman,  Thom 
as  Moorman,  Madison  Moorman,  Antel  J.  Moorman,  James 
May,  Samuel  Motti.er,  John  McMullin,  William  Place,  James 
Point,  Andrew  J.  Point,  Loveman  Place,  William  Perry, 
Henry  Pool,  Samuel  llider,  Joseph  H.  llider,  John  N. 
llupert,  Alanson  S.  Rhodes,  Benjamin  C.  Seaman, 
Samuel  Shock,  Charles  W.  Smith,  Walter  S.  Stevens,  Rob 
ert  Sutton.  Ebenezer  Sunderland,  Samuel  Sunderland,  An 
drew  I).  Sunderland,  Robert.Sunderland,  Abraham  Shanks, 
Benjamin  F.  Simkins.  Sjumiel  L.  Swtvnoy,  John  Torvvilli- 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  "A."     173 

ger,  Elijah  Tracy,  Washington  Tippie,  Corwin  B.  Van 
Pelt,  Rufus  White,  Isaac  Walters,  George  W.  Winans, 
William  H.  Winans,  Thomas  Whetstone,  Aaron  Zircle. 

Recruits. — Frederick  Conkel,  Alexander  C.  Counts,  Thos. 
Fair,  Francis  M.  Harter,  Bennett  Harter,  Barton  S.  Har- 
ter,  John  Miller,  Eli  Miller,  Warrick  W.  Morton,  G-eorge 
A.  Park,  Clark  Ely,  Peter  Ely,  George  Hammond,  John 
Meaker,  Leroy  Place,  Edgar  Stevens. 

CASUALTIES, 

Promotions. — Captain  W.  H.  HILL  to  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
April  22,  '65  ;  First  Lieutenant,  D.  S.  VAN  PELT,  to  Captain, 
May  17,  '64;  First  Sergeant,  Adam  C.  Post,  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  June  19,  '64;  to  First  Lieutenant,  April  23, 
'65  ;  Sergeant,  Joseph  H.  Harbison  to  First  Sergeant,  June 
19,  '64;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  May  24,  '65;  Private  Cor 
win  B.  Van  Pelt,  to  Commissary  Sergeant,  July  1,  '64  ; 
to  Quartermaster  Sergeant,  March  26.  '65 ;  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  May  24,  '65. 

Died  of  Disease. — Albert  G.  Gatton,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Jan. 
13, '63;  Thomas  Whetstone,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Feb.  5,  '63; 
Samuel  Shock,  Corinth,  Miss.,  March  12,  '63;  William  A. 
J.  Moorman,  Corinth.  Miss.,  April  18,  '63;  Joseph  I.  Fair, 
Corinth,  Miss.,  April  28,  '63;  William  Culver,  Pocahontas, 
Tenn.,  July  6,  '63;  Hamiline  Bice,  Corinth,  Miss.,  July  18, 
'63;  Thomas  Moorman,  Pocahontas,  Tenn.  Aug.  8,  '63; 
Warrick  W.  Morton,  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  March  17,  '64; 
Thomas  Fair,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  May  27,  '64 ;  Henry 
Sunderland,  Rome,  Ga.,  July  4,  '64;  Francis  M.  Harter, 
Marietta,  Ga.,  Sept.  3,  '64;  Hiram  Armitage,  Rome,  Ga., 
Sept.  3, '64;  Sergeant  Wr in.  P.  De  Hart,  Lima,  O.,  Dec. 
16,  '64  ;  William  Adams,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Nov.  16,  '64  ; 
James  S.  Cook,  Louisville,  Ky.,  Dec.  16,  '64;  George  W. 
Winans,  Rome,  Ga.,  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Discharged  for  Disability.— Elijah  Tracy,  Oct.  23,  '62 ; 
Wm.  H.  Winans,  Jan.  7,  63;  Hervcy  Wicks,  Jan.  14,  '63; 
James  Davis,  Jan.  14,  ;63 ;  James  S.  Garver,  Jan.  21,  '63; 
Henry  Pool,  March  27,  '63  ;  George  W.  Enboden — no  date ; 
Loveman  Place,  Jan.  24,  '63;  David  B.  Buckles,  Jan.  19, 
'65 ;  Isaac  Gatton,  March  16,  '65  ;  Samuel  Mottier,  May  19, 
'65  ;  William  Perry,  May  30,  '65  ;  George  A.  Park,  May  5, 
'65 ;  Geo.  W.  Smith,  May  5,  '65. 

Discharged  to  accept  Promotion. — John  Tenvilli^er.  Sept. 
14,  '63. 


174  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Discharged  upon  Expiration  of  Term  of  Service. — R.  K 
Darling,  Sept.  6,  '64. 

Transferred — To  Non-commissioned  Staff,  Corwin  B.  Van 
Pelt,  July  1,  '64,  Chas.  W.  Fogle,  May  24,  '65;  W.  N. 
Miller,  May  26,  '65;  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Madison 
Moorman,  Oct. 7,  '64. 

Resigned. — Second  Lieut.,  Timothy  Shaffer,  Aug.  24,'  64. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  COMPANY  B,  81ST  OHIO,  OR 
GANIZED  AT  LIMA,  OHIO,  AUGUST,  1861,  BY  CAPTAIN 
M.  ARMSTRONG. 

Captain  MARTIN  ARMSTRONG,  First  Lieutenant,  JAMES 
W.  TITUS,  Second  Lieutenant  WILLIAM  F.  WILCOX. 

Sergeants. — First  Sergeant,  James  H.  Corns:  George  W. 
Dixon,  George  W.  Miller,  Rufus  K.  Darling,  John  Johnson. 

Corporals. — Gideon  Ditto.  Jerome  Raymond,*  Wallace 
Standish,  Sumner  F.  Mason,  John  B.  Jacobs,  John  Askins, 
Francis  M.  Hartshorn,  William  D.  Cunningham. 

Privates — John  \V.  Armour,  Madison  W.  Alexander,*  G. 
H.  Adgate,  John  W.  Anderson,  Abraham  Bumgardner, 
Jasper  Buckmaster,  Thomas  D.  Crosley,  Gabriel  Coffman, 
William  Copas,  Eli  Champion,  William  Champion,  Ware 
Champion,  Joseph  R.  Clay  tor,  Christopher  C.  Claytor,* 
William  Cole,  Joseph  Carmean,  George  Conrad,  George 
Daniels,  William  H.  Dills,  Inley  Seth  Dixon,  Floyd  Downs, 
Abram  Fulmer,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Nathaniel  G.  Frank 
lin,  William  Me  H.  Gillespey,*  Win.  H.  Garretson,  Steele 
L.  Henderson,  Samuel  B.  "Henderson,*  James  A.  Hume, 
George  E.  Haines,  Charles  Haines,  Enos  Huffier,  Jacob 
Ireland,  Christian  Lehman,*  Isaac  Lehman,* John  Linton,* 
Marquis  D.  Mason,  William  F.  Maltbie,*  Henry  Miller, 
Robert  A.  Miller,  George  Miller,  Isaac  McGrady,  Jesse 
Miller,*  Washington  Martin,*  Wm.  L.  Mechling,*  George 
W.  May,  Jacob  Mark  el,* John  Mullenour,  Joseph  Mull  en  our, 
William  J.  Morris,  Charles  McBride,  Matthew  McMullin, 
Amos  Nihiser,  Joseph  S.  Peltier,  John  W.  Peltier,  Hiram 
Robbins,  Ferdinand  C.  Richards,  Martin  V.  Richards, 
William  Rankins,  Jerome  T.  Straley,  Thomas  Shaw,*  Cor 
nelius  Shoff*,  William  Sherman,  Ja.cob  Stevenson,  William 
Snyder,  James  Sherry,  sen.,  James  Sherry,  jun.,  Albert 
Sherry,  Daniel  J.  Sluiler,  Charles  Sherman,  Jas.  Swisher,* 
Sampson  Sawmiller,  Levi  Spangler,  Peter  Tracy,*  Milton 
Titus,  George  R.  Truesdale,  Jacob  Tester,  Jesse  Tarman, 

•"•  Voterans. 


17.3 

Lawrence   Verbryke,   John    Wollet,   Noah   Wollet,   Win. 
H.  Woley  *  Franklin  Wright. 

Recruits. — Francis  M.  Armour,  Joseph  W.  Brown,  Daniel 
H.  Bush,  William  T.  Caskey,  Goodson  McClayton,  Horace 
A.  Edmonds,  Enoch  Greer,  William  II.  Greer,  Arthur  Hall, 
John  Lutz,  Hugh  McKinstry,  John  Motter,  Price  Nun, 
FidillisOtt,  Benjamin  Pippin,  William  H.  Pierson,  Charles 
Ross,  James  W.  Swain,  Sampson  Swain,  Harvey  Shults, 
Samuel  Claytor,  Edward  Carmean,  Thomas  A.  Maltbie, 
Anderson  Poling,  Stephen  A.  Swisher,  Byrant  Sweeney. 

CASUALTIES. 

Promotions. — Lieutenant  JAMES  W.  TITUS  to  Captain, 
April  7,  '62,  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Aug.  21,  '64.  Sergeant 
James  H.  Corns  to  First  Lieutenant,  April  7,  '62 ,  to 
Captain,  Oct.  3,  '62,  and  assigned  to  Co.  D  ;  transferred 
to  Invalid  Corps,  '63;  severely  wounded  at  Battle  of  Cor 
inth,  Oct.  3,  '62 ;  Sergeant  Geo.  W.  Dixon  to  First  Lieut., 
June  3,  '63  ;  Sergeant  Geo.  W.  Miller  to  First  Lieutenant, 
April  12,  '63.  Corporal  Gideon  Ditto  promoted  to  First 
Sergeant.  Wounded  Oct.  4,  '62,  at  Corinth  ;  May  14,  '64, 
at  Lay's  Ferry,  Ga.;  and  July  22,  '64,  at  Atlanta;  Corporal 
Jerome  Kayrnond  promoted  to  5th  Sergeant;  Corporal 
Sumner  F.  Mason, promoted  to  2nd  Sergeant;  to  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  May  24,  '65  ;  to  1st  Lieutenant,  July  10,  '65 ;  Corporal 
Francis  M.  Hartshorn  promoted  to  3d  Sergeant ;  Private 
William  Me  H.  Gillespey  to  Corporal  for  services  in  action, 
July  22,  '64,  before  Atlanta,  Ga.;  to  Sergeant,  Dec.  27,  '64 ; 
Christian  Lehman  to  Sergeant,  April  30,  '65 ;  Private 
Charles  Haines  promoted  to  Corporal  for  services  in  action 
at  Corinth,  Oct.  3  and  4,  '62;  Private  James  Swisher  to 
Corporal  for  meritorious  services  in  action,  July  22,  '64, 
before  Atlanta,  Ga.;  wounded  Aug.  7,  '64,  before  Atlanta, 
Ga.;  leg  amputated. 

Killed  in  Action. — Captain  MARTIN  ARMSTONG,  April  6, 
'62,  battle  of  Shiloh  ;  Sergeant  John  Johnson,  Oct.  3,  '62, 
battle  of  Corinth;  Private  John  W.  Armour,  Oct.  4,  '62, 
battle  of  Corinth ;  G.  H.  Adgatc,  Oct.  3,  '62,  battle  of 
Corinth  ;  Thomas  D.  Crosley/May  9,  '64,  skirmish  at  Re- 
saca,  Ga.;  Abram  Fulmer,  Oct.  3,  "62,  battle  of  Corinth; 
William  Rankins,  Oct.  3,  '62,  battle  of  Corinth. 

*  Veteran. 


176  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Died  from  Wounds  or  Disease. — Gabriel  Coffman,  disease, 
July  10,  '62,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Eli  Champion,  disease, 
Sept.  13,  '63,  Pocahontas,  Tenn.;  George  Daniels,  disease, 
May  7,  '62,  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Floyd  Downs,  wound,  Jan. 
14,  '63,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Nathaniel  G.  Franklin,  disease, 
May  14,  '62,  Cincinnati ;  Samuel  B.  Henderson,  disease, 
Nov.  7,  '61,  Franklin,  Mo.;  Joseph  Mullenour,  disease, 
June  24,  '62,  Paducah,  Ky.;  Charles  McBride,  disease,  Dec. 
18,  '63,  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo.;  Amos  Nihiser,  disease, 
Nov.  19,  '62,  Corinth,  Miss.;  Hiram  Robbins,  wound,  April 
9,  '63,  Mound  City,  Illinois;  William  Sherman,  disease, 
Dec.  20,  '61,  Herman,  Mo.;  William  Snyder,  disease,  June 
21,  '62,  Lima,  Ohio;  James  Sherry,  Jun.,  disease,  Aug.  5, 
'62,  Corinth,  Miss.;  Levi  Spangler,  disease,  Nov.  7,  '61, 
Franklin,  Mo.;  Lawrence  Verbryke,  disease,  May  24,  '62, 
Monterey,  Tenn.;  Joseph  W.  Brown,  disease,  Nov.  26,  '63, 
Corinth,  Miss,;  Hugh  McKinstry,  disease,  Aug.  1,  '63,  Cor 
inth,  Miss.;  Price  Nun,  disease,  May  25,  '63,  Corinth  Miss.; 
Fidillis  Ott,  disease,  March  12,  '63,  Corinth,  Miss.;  Samp 
son  Swain,  disease,  Aug.  3,  '64,  Marietta,  Ga.;  Stephen  A. 
S wisher,  disease,  April,  '64,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Corporal  John  B.Jacobs,  Sept, 
8,  '62  ;  Corporal  John  Askins,  Aug.  15,  '62;  Corporal  Wm. 
D.  Cunningham,  Feb.  5,  '63;  Jasper  Buckmaster,  July  1, 
'62;  William  Champion,  Aug.  13,  '62;  Ware  Champion, 
Aug.  13,  '62;  Joseph  R.  Claytor,  Oct.  3,  '62;  George  Con 
rad,  July  30,  '62  ;  William  H.  Dills,  Jan.  1,  '63;  James  A. 
Hume,  June  28,  62  ;  Enos  Huffer,  July  9,  '62  ;  George  Mil 
ler,  Sept.  12,  62  ;  Isaac  McGrady,  Feb.  15,  '64 ;  John  Mul 
lenour,  March  3,  '63;  William  J.  Morris,  Sept.  16,  '62; 
Martin  Y.  Richards,  Nov.  4,  '62;  Jacob  Stevenson,  Nov. 
30,  '62  ;  James  Sherry,  Sen.,  July  19,  '62;  Albert  Sherry, 
Aug.  30,  '62 ;  George  K.  Truesdale,  Dec.  17,  '62 ;  Francis 
M.  Armour,  Sept.  19,  '63. 

Transferred. — Captain  JAMES  H.  CORNS,  to  Co.  D,  81st 
Ohio,  May,  '63;  Sergeant  Rufus  K.  Darling  to  Co.  A,  81st 
Ohio;  Oct.  1,  '62;  William  Cole,  to  Invalid'Corps,  Dec.  15, 
'63;  Arthur  Hall,  to  Invalid  Corps,  Jan.  15,  '64. 

Resigned. — Secopd  Lieutenant  W.  T.  WILCOX,  April,  '62. 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  C.        177 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  COMPANY  C,  81ST  OHIO  IN 
FANTRY  VOLUNTEERS,  ORGANIZED  AT  GREENFIELD, 
OHIO,  AUGUST  30,  1861,  BY  CAPT-  R.  N.  ADAMS. 

Captain  E.  N.  ADAMS,  First  Lieutenant  W.  H.  CHAMBER- 
LIN,  Second  Lieutenant  OLIVER  P.  IRION. 

Sergeants. — First  Sergeant  W.  A.  Johnson  ;  Charles  De- 
poy,  William  W.  Merrill,  Henry  N.  Depoy,  Lyle  G.  Adair. 

Corporals.— William  H.  Scroggs,  John  A.  Wilson,  Ed 
win  W.  Brown,  Douglas  W.  Binns,  James  Abbot,  William 
H.  Logan,  William  F.  Dwyer,  John  Q.  Adams. 

Musicians. — William  B.  Haynes,  David  W.  Buck. 

Privates.— William  McM.  Adams,  Thomas  J.  Beatty,* 
Joseph  H.  Bennett,*  John  Blake,*  James  H.  Boggs, George 
W.  Brinley,  William  M.  Buck.*  Noble  B.  Caldwell  *  Charles 
Clark,  George  Claypoql,  James  W.  Cowman,*  John  M. 
Cowman,*  Nathan  W.  Crooks,  Andrew  M.  Dick,  James  E. 
J.  Dill,*  Edward  S.  Donaldson,  Peter  W.  Duffield,  Samuel 
Edgington,  Isaac  H.  Eshelman,  Benjamin  Estle,  William 
H.  Estle,  Elijah  Furry,  Henry  Furry,*  Wrilliam  Furry,* 
Robert  H.  Griner,  Henry  G.  Hamilton,  Edward  Hendry,* 
John  M.  Henness,*  Albert  Kinnainon,*  Samuel  A.  Leav- 
erton,*  Robert  W.  Luttrell  *  David  Y.  Lyttle,*  John  Ma- 
der,*  John  C.  McAlpin,*  James  McAlster,*  James  McCann,* 
Calvin  P.  McClelland,  James  McClelland,  Edward  P.  Mc- 
Cormick.  Daniel  J.  Melson.*  John  H.  Meredith,  Randolph 
F.  Milbourne,  Samuel  J.  Moomau,  Gary  L.  Nelson,  Joseph 
K.  Nelson,  James  M.  Nixon,  Abraham  D.  Park,  Thomas 
P.  Potts,  Isaac  Rife,  Benjamin  Rigdon,*  James  C.  Rigdon, 
Presley  Robey,  Charles  M.  Robins,*  Charles  Robinson, 
Alexander  R.  Rodgers,  William  B.  Rush,*  Francis  A. 
Sayre,*  William  H.  Say  re,  John  G.  Scroggs,  Hugh  S.  Strain, 
Galia  Streets,  Amos  Swartz,  John  E.  Taylor,  James  A, 
Watts,  Thomas  N.  Watts,  John  M.  Wiley*  Samuel  T. 
Wiley*  John  H.  Willis,  Tilghman  R.  Willis,*  Joseph  M. 
Wilson,  Charles  Wright,  James  D.  Young. 

Recruits  of  1862.— Lewis  R.  Barr,  Wilbur  F.  Cherry, 
George  W.  Coaplantz,  Frank  L.  Dunlap,  Joseph  P.  Eshel- 
man,  John  M.  Estle,  Fletcher  B.  Haynes,  William  B.  Hen- 
ness,  David  C.  Johnson,  Jabez  Johnson,  Andrew  N.  Mack- 
erley,  Arden  P.  Middleton,  John  H.  Middleton,  James  H. 
Pricer,  Berry  Smith,  Joseph  P.  Taylor.  Under-cook — Jo 
seph  Gant. 

*  Veterans. 

15 


178  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CASUALTIES. 

Promotions. — Captain  E.  N.  ADAMS  to  Lieutenant-Colonel 
May  7,  '62;  to  Colonel  Aug.  12,  'G4 ;  to  Brevet  Brigadier- 
General  to  date  from  March  13,  '65. 

First  Lieutenant  W.  H  CHAMBERLIN  to  Captain,  May  7, 
1862  ;  to  Major,  Aug.  12,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant  O.  P.  IRION  to  First  Lieutenant,  May 
7,  1862  ;  to  Captain,  1864. 

First  Sergeant  W.  A.  Johnson  to  Second  Lieutenant,  May 
7,  '62;  to  First  Lieutenant,  June  27,  '64;  to  Captain,  Apr. 
25,  '65. 

Private  William  B.  Rush  to  Corporal,  May  5,  '62 ;  to 
Sergeant,  Feb.  1,  '64;  to  First  Sergeant,  May  1,  '64;  to 
Sergeant  Major,  Aug.  19,  '64;  to  First  Lieutenant,  March 
26/65;  appointed  Adjutant  March  28,  '65. 

Corporal  W.  H.  Scroggs  to  First  Sergeant,  Jan.  1,  63. 

Corporal  John  A.  Wilson  to  Sergeant,  May  1,  1864; 
color  bearer. 

Corporal  W.  H.  Logan  to  Sergeant,  Feb.  5,  '62. 

Private  John  M.  Henness  to  Corporal  for  good  conduct 
in  action,  battle  of  Corinth,  Oct.  20,  '62  ;  to  Sergeant,  Sept. 
1,  '64  ;  to  First  Sergeant,  Nov.  1,  '64  ;  to  Second  Lieuten 
ant,  May,  '65  ;  not  mustered. 

Private  John  Mader  to  Corporal,  May  5,  '62  ;  to  Ser 
geant,  Oct.  29,  '62  ;  to  First  Sergeant,  Jan.  1,  '64. 

Private  James  McCann  to  Corporal,  Feb.  5,  '62;  to  Ser 
geant,  Jan.  7,  '63. 

Private  Samuel  T.  Wiley  to  Corporal,  Feb.  1,  '64;  to 
Sergeant,  April  28,  '65. 

Private  James  McAlster  to  Corporal,  May  22,  '64 ;  to 
Sergeant,  Sept.  1,  '64. 

Private  Andrew  N.  M  acker  ley  to  Corporal,  March  26, 
1864  ;  to  Sergeant.  July  1,  1865. 

Privates  Charles  Wright  and  James  C.  Kigdon  to  Cor 
porals,  Oct.  20,  '62,  for  bravery  and  good  conduct  at  the 
battle  of  Corinth. 

Kitkd  in  Battle.— William  McM.  Adams,  battle  of  Shiloh, 
Apr.  V ,  '62  ;  Amos  Swartz,  battle  of  Corinth,  Oct.  3,  '62 ; 
John  M.  Wiley,  Lay's  Ferry,  Oostenaula  river,  Georgia. 
May  14,  '64;  Wilbur  F.  Cherry,  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July 
22,  1864. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  C.        179 

Died  of  Wounds. — John  M.  Cowman,  Sept.  10,  1864, 
wounded  at  Lovejoys's  Sept.  2,  '64 ;  Fletcher  B.  Huynes, 
Dec.  18,  '64,  wounded  Dec.  13,  '64,  near  Savannah,  Ga. 

Died  of  Disease. — George  Claypool,  Mar.  26,  '62,  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  Tenn  ;  John  H.  Willis.  Corinth,  Miss.,  Aug. 
27,  '62  ;  James  D.  Young,  Greenfield!  Ohio,  June  10,  '62 ; 
George  W.  Coaplantz,  Pocahontas,  Tenn.,  Aug.  20,  '63  ; 
Berry  Smith,  Rome,  Ga.,  Aug.  8,  '64;  Joseph"?.  Taylor, 
Corinth.  Miss.,  Dec.  8,  '62  ;  Francis  A.  Sayre,  near  Colum 
bia,  South  Carolina,  Feb.  20.  '65. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Sergeant  Charles Depoy,  Mar. 
19,  '64;  Sergeant  John  A.  Wilson,  Sept.  27,  '64,  wounded 
at  Lay's  Ferry,  Ga.,  May  15,  '64  ;  Sergeant  Henry  N.  De 
poy,  Dec.  15,  '62;  Sergeant  W.  II.  Logan.  July  9,  '62  ;  Cor 
poral  D.  W.  Binns,  July  22.  '63  ;  W.  B.  Haynes,  Mar.  3, 
1863;  D.  WT.  Buck,  Dec,  15,  '62  ;  J.  II.  Boggs,  Oct.  1,  '62; 
Chas.  Clark,  Oct.  1, '62;  E.  S.  Donaldson,  July  12, '62;  B.  Es- 
tle,  Feb.  25,  ;62 ;  E.  Furry,  Mar.  8,  '63,  from  wound  received 
at  Shiloh,  Apr.  7,  ;62  ;  E.  P.  McCorrnick,  Aug.  23,  62  ;  J.  H. 
Meredith,  Nov.  21,  '62;  Sam'U.  Moomau,  Oct.  9,  '62  ;  C.  L. 
Nelson.  July  18,  '62;  W.  H.  Sayre,  Feb.  25,  '62 ;  H.  S.  Strain, 
Oct.,  '62  ;  Galia  Streets,  July  18,  '62 ;  J.  M.  Wilson,  July  18, 
'62  ;  J.  H.  Middleton,  Aug.  30,  '63. 

Transferred. — Sergeant  W.  H.  Scroggs  to  lllth  United 
States  Colored  Troops,  Jan.  29,  '64,  to  accept  appointment 
of  Captain  ;  Edward  Hendry  to  1st  Missouri  Light  Artil 
lery,  Jan.  1,  ?64;  Sergeant  John  Mader  to  lllth  United 
States  Colored  Troops,  June  10,  '64,  to  accept  appointment 
of  Quartermaster  Sergeant ;  Corporal  J.  K.  Nelson  to  lllth 
United  States  Colored  Troops,  Jan.  29,  '64,  to  accept  ap 
pointment  of  Second  Lieutenant ;  E.  Milbourne  to  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps,  Dec.  15,  '63. 

(The  non-veterans  of  this  company  were  mustered  out 
in  September,  1864,  and  on  the  26th  of  December,  1864, 
the  veterans  and  recruits  were  transferred  to  companies 
E  and  F.) 


180  HISTORY  OF  THE 


ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  COMPANY  D,  81ST  OHIO,  OR 
GANIZED  IN  AUGUST  AND  SEPTEMBER,  1801,  AT  UPPER 
SANDUSKY,  WYANDOT  COUNTY,  OHIO,  BY  CAPTAIN 
P.  A.  TYLER,  (COMPILED  FROM  MUSTER-OUT  ROLL.) 

Captain  PETER  A.  TYLER,  First  Lieutenant  FREDERICK 
AGERTER,  Second  Lieutenant  JOSEPH  M.  POST. 

Sergeants. — First  Sergeant,  Noah  M.  Stoker,  Charles  II. 
Willard,  Willard  D.  Tyler,  Richard  J.  Earp,  Robert  M. 
Eeed. 

Corporals.— David  Agerter,  Henry  Hardly,  Benjamin 
Stewart,  Benjamin  Ellis,  William  Earp,  David  Hagermau. 

Privates. — Jacob  Albert,  James  Anderson,  Jas.  A.  Atkin 
son,  Thomas  M.  Blake,  Joseph  P.  Berry,  John  Bushong, 
Charles  Caldwell,  Napoleon  Grouse,  Hugh  T.  Carlisle, 
Patrick  Downey,  Samuel  Down,  Henry  Down,  William 
Davis,  George  Devine,  David  Dysinger,  John  Finan,  Caleb 
J.  Fogle,  Jeremiah  C.  Groff,  John  W.  Gillin,  James  B. 
Graham,  Stephen  Healy,  Ephrairn  Hay,  William  Hel- 
sel,  H.  Hawkins,  James  It.  Ilagerman,  William  R. 
Heffelfinger,  George  K.  Ilagerman,  Anson  Jones,  Michael 
W.  Kimrnel,  Charles  S.  Keys,  Levi  Keller.  Patrick  Kelly, 
Franklin  Kating,  Jerome  Kennedy,  Jacob  Lime,  Elijah  C. 
Longabaugh,  Joseph  H.  Long,  Martin  Lipp,  Patrick  Mui- 
hauer,  Jared  L.  Mills,  Henry  Miller,  Jacob  Miller,  William 
Mankin,  Jonah  Mankin,  James  M.  Nelson,  Morris  Prender- 
gast,  Wilson  Quaintance,  James  E.  Eeed,  William  A.  Eeed, 
John  F.  Reidling,  0.  H.  P.  Reed,  John  F.  Eose,  John  P. 
Eoss,  Elias  Stevens,  Joseph  Stall,  William  Stamford,  Law 
rence  Smith,  HenryStomb,  James  Surplus,  Anderson  Sul 
livan,  William  F.  Savage,  John  Thompson,  Asa  H.  Tyler, 
John  A.  Vanorsdall,  Kobert  Whinnery,  John  Wilson. 

Recruits. — Obadiah  Fair,  Samuel  Gilbert,  Freeman 
Hoaks,  Lewis  Lemay,  Jacob  M.  Lougworth,  John  Moor 
man,  Charles  M.  Peterson,  Leroy  Russell,  Edward  Slade, 
Thomas  Cooper,  Thomas  Shewman,  Clintqp  Shewman,  Mil 
ton  Hapner,  Benjamin  F.  Saylor,  F.  C.  Andrews,  Isaac  J. 
Clair,  Charles  Campbell,  JaniL's  Overholser,  John  R.  Peters, 
Charles  M.  Shaw,  Keeder  Shewman,  Henry  M.  Studebaker, 
Thomas  Shelley,  Andrew  Thompson,  William  E.  Lee, 
Nicholas  Cunningham,  (under-cook.) 


EIGHTY- FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  D.      181 
CASUALTIES. 

Promotions. — First  Sergeant,  Noah  M.  Stoker  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  April  7,  '62;  to  First  Lieutenant,  Dec.  31,  '62; 
to  Captain,  Jan.  10,  64;  Sergeant  Willard  D.  Tyler  to 
Second  Lieutenant,  Dec.  31,  '62;  to  First  Lieutenant,  Jan. 
10,  '64;  Private  J.  0.  Grotf  to  Quartermaster,  110th  Regi 
ment  United  States  Colored  Troops,  Jan.  5,  '64. 

lulled  in  Action. — Second  Lieutenant  JOSEPH  M.  POST, 
battle  of  Shiloh,  April  7,  '62  ;  James  Anderson,  May  29, 
'64,  Dallas,  Ga.;  Morris  Prendergast,  battle  of  Atlanta, 
July  22,  '64;  Laxvrence  Smith,  Cheraw,  S.  C.,  March  6.  'G5. 

Died  of  Wounds. — Corporal  Henry  Hardly,  Corinth, 
Miss.,  Oct.  3,  '62 ;  Thomas  Cooper,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  24, 
'64;  Patrick  Kelly,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,  '64;  Oliver  H. 
P.  Eeed,  Paducah,  Ky.,  May  4,  ?62 ;  wounded  at  Shiloh  ; 
John  F.  Rose,  Corinth,' Miss.,  Oct.  3,  '62. 

Died  of  Disease. — Corporal  David  Agerter,  Corinth,  Miss., 
Nov.  23,  '62;  Corporal  Benjamin  Stewart,  Hamburg,  Tenn., 
(drowned)  Jan.  26,  '63;  Thomas  M.  Blake,  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
May  17,  '62  ;  Patrick  Downey,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Dec.  23,  '62  '• 
David  Hagerman,  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tenn.,  May  9,  '62; 
Levi  Keller,  May  18,  '62  ;  Wilson  Quaintance,  Corinth, 
Miss.,  June  14,  '62 ;  John  P.  Ross,  Corinth,  Miss.,  July  28, 
'62;  Anderson  Sullivan,  Monterey,  Tenn.,  June  1,  '62; 
Thomas  Shewman,  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  June  26,  '64. 
-  Missing. — Franklin  Kating,  in  action  at  Corinth,  Miss., 
Oct.  3,  62. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Sergeant  Richard  J.  Earp, 
July  31,  '62;  Corporal  Benjamin  Ellis,  Jan..  '63;  Joseph 
P.  Berry,  Dec.  1,  '61;  John  Bushong,  Jan.  22,  '63;  Huirh 
T.Carlisle,  April  22,  '63;  William  T.  Caskey,  April  28, 
'63  ;  David  Dysinger,  Aug.  31,  '62;  John  W.  Gillin,  March 
9,  '63  ;  Anson  Jones,  Aug.  24,  '62  ;  Jerome  Kennedy,  Nov. 
'61 ;  Jacob  Lime.  Jan.  5,  '63;  Jared  F.  Mills,  Aug.  16,  '62; 
William  Mankin,  Jan.,  '62;  Jonah  Mankin,  June,  '62; 
William  A.  Reed,  no  date;  Elias  Stevens,  Jan.  6,  62; 
William  Stanford,  June  12,  '65;  Charles  M.  Shaw,  May  11, 
;65 ;  Henry  Stomb,  Jan.  7,  '63. 

Transferred. — Geo.  K.  Hagerman,  to  Non-commissioned 
Staff;  Nov.  1,  '64;  James  M.  Nelson  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps,  April  30,  '64. 


182  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Mustered  out. — Capt.  N.  STOKER,  on  expiration  of  term 
of  service. 

Resigned. — First  Lieutenant  F.  AGERTER,  Nov.  24,  '62  ; 
First  Lieutenant  W.  D.  TYLER,  Jan.  31,  '65. 

NOTE. — Upon  the  reception  of  the  official  notice  of  the 
muster-out  of  Companies  B  and  C,  an  order  was  issued 
from  Regimental  Headquarters,  transferring  the  veterans 
and  recruits  of  the  former  Company  to  Company  D,  Dec. 
26,  '64. 


EXTRACTS  FROM    MUSTER-OUT    ROLL    OF    COMPANY  E, 
81ST  OHIO. 

NOTE. — Company  E,  as  before  stated,  was  not  a  mini 
mum  company  until  in  August,  1862,  when  Company  If, 
another  partial  organization,  raised  at  Lima,  O.,  by  Captain 
CHARLES  M.  HUGHES,  was  consolidated  with  it.  Owing  to 
this  fact,  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  an  accurate  list  of 
original  members,  but  the  following  compilation  from  the 
Muster-out  Roll  will  serve  the  purpose.  On  the  26th 
December,  1864,  a  portion  of  the  veterans  and  recruits  of 
Company  C,  not  mustered  out  with  their  Company,  were 
transferred  to  this  Company,  with  which  they  served  until 
the  Regiment  was  mustered  out. 

Officers  of  Company  E. — Captain  GEORGE  A.  TAYLOR,  re 
signed,  Dec.  1,  '61 ;  Captain  RICHARD  Y.  LANIUS,  appointed 
Dec.  12,  '61 ;  resigned,  Feb.  13,  '63 ;  Captain  CHARLES  M. 
HUGHES,  mustered  out  upon  consolidation  of  Go's  H  and 
E,  Aug.  '62;  First  Lieutenant  JOHN  L.  HUGHES,  promoted 
to  Captain,  April  12,  '63 ;  Discharged  on  account  of  phys 
ical  disability,  March  4,  '64;  Sergeant  Jonathan  McCain, 
promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant — date  not  given  ;  to  First 
Lieutenant,  '63;  to  Captain,  May  18,  '64;  Second  Lieuten 
ant  ANTHONY  EOWSHER,  resigned,  Aug.  13,  '62;  Second 
Lieutenant  THOMAS  HARPSTER,  mustered  out  on  expiration 
of  term  of  service,  Oct.  22,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  the  Regiment,  July,  13,  1865. — First 
Sergeant  Charles  Brcnnan,  appointed  Nov.  14,  '64;  pro 
moted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  May,  '65;  not  mustered;  Ser 
geants  Philip  Hoot,  appointed  Jan.  1,  '64;  Jacob  Byers, 
Oct.  5,  '64;  Joseph  H.  Taylor,  March  1,  '65. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY   E.      183 

Corporals. — Leonard  Ward,  James  D.  Ward,  John  H. 
Morris. 

Privates,  (veterans). — Erastus  R.  Curtis,  Joseph  Cush- 
moul,  Thomas  Everitt,  Albert  S.  Hickerson,  Thomas  H. 
Hullinger,  Samuel  H.  Hullinger,  Geo.  K.  Keith,  Jamison 
Mayberiy,  Thomas  Movers,  Charles  Straw,  John  Simon, 
Leander  Slygh,  Samuel  J.  Vinson,  Andrew  J.  Wilson. 

Recruits. — Robert  N".  Harpster,  George  W.  Longnecker, 
Samuel  Strubridge,  John  Sindall. 

Under- Cooks. — Andrew  Davis,  Henry  Pillow. 

Killed  in  Battle.—DsLvid  M.  Bailey,  before  Atlanta,  Ga., 
Aug.  9,  '64;  Isaac  C.  Deam,  before  Atlanta,  Aug.  24,  '<!4  ; 
Levi  Garret,  battle  of  Atlanta,  July  22,  '64. 

Died. — Joseph  Close,  June  12. '62;  Alexander  Fulling- 
ham,  Danville,  Mo.,  Dec.  12,  '61 ;  Charles  AY.  Miller,  Rome, 
Ga.,  July  27,  '64;  Isaac  McKee,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  6, 
'65 ;  Jacob  Showman,  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  Dec.  18,  '63  ;  Wells 
H.  Ward,  Franklin,  Mo.,  Dec.  11,  '61;  Wesley  Walters, 
Corinth,  Miss.,  Oct.  29,  '62. 

Discharged  prior  to  July  13,  '65,  on  expiration  of  term  of 
service. — Sergeants,  Pierson  S.  Hubbard,  George  McCain, 
James  W.  Hullinger;  Corporals,  Daniel  Harpster,  Wm. 
V.  Garner;  Solomon  Miller,  Cyrus  D.  Smutz,  G  rattan  E. 
Poage,  James  W.  Bailey,  William  A.  Burns,  Alonzo  Mone- 
smith. 

Privates. — Adam  Alexander,  Alvero  Curtis,  Robert  W. 
Ellison,  George  Fear,  Andrew  Gillespie,  William  Gaunt, 
Thomas  Hilyard,  Robert  Hill,  Patterson  C.  Harrison,  John 
Nott,  Amos  A.  Miller,  George  W.  Murray,  Samuel  Neely, 
Jacob  Rinehart,  Thomas  Snider,  Ambrose  Snider,  Louis 
Swearingen,  Isaac  Strubridge,  William  Snodgrass,  Joseph 
Wagoner,  William  Atmur,  James  H.  Barber,  James  Bid- 
dinger,  Hugh  N.  Biddinger,  Valentine  Bauersack,  Jordan 
S.  Craig,  Jacob  Gensel,  Josephus  L.  Kemp,  Martin  F. 
Kintz,  Thomas  C.  Rice,  Jacob  T.  Rice,  Reuben  White, 
Frederick  C.  Bennett,  William  D.  Clear,  Jacob  B.  Call, 
Benjamin  F.  Gardner,  Samuel  Kneass.  David  E.  Mone- 
smith.  Peter  S.  Miller,  Hiram  Nease,  Thomas  A.  Nation, 
John  II.  Smith,  Lemuel  Stephenson,  Martin  Shewman, 
William  II.  Turner,  Richard  C.  Truitt,  Ed.  W.  Walker. 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

Discharged  for  Disability.  —  John  Brash,  Feb.  1,  '62  ;  Mich 
ael  Brown,  Jan.,  '04;  Lucius  Curtis,  July  22,  ;62  ;  Chaun- 
eey  Curtis,  Nov.  20.  '62;  John  Fullington,  July  25,  '62; 
Gilbert  Huff,  Aug.  23,  '62;  James  M.  Potterf,  (by  General 
Order,  No.  77,  War  Department,)  June  19,  '65  ;  Alexander 
Allison,  Sept.  5,  '63;  Jesse  H.  Atmur,  Aug.  9,  '62  ;  James 


A.  Boyd  —  no  date;  Homer  C.  Binkley,  Aug.  8,  62;  Jameh 
F.  McGinnis,  July  27,  '63  ;  George  H.  Kone}-—  no  date; 
William  B.  Sheehan,  Feb.  14,  '63. 

Transferred.  —  Charles  Shock  to  Non-commissioned  Staff, 
promoted  to  Hospital  Steward  June,  13  '65;  John  Alder 
to  Company  I,  1st  Missouri  Light  Artillery,  Sept.  7,  '63  ; 
John  S.  Goeble  to  Company  I,  1st  Missouri  Light  Artillery, 
Sept,  7,  '63;  John  Hitchcock  to  Company  I,  1st  Missouri 
Light  Artillery,  Sept.  7,  '63;  David  W.  "Lamme  to  Non 
commissioned  Staff,  promoted  to  Hospital  Steward,  1862; 
Milton  Titus  to  Company  B,  Oct.  22,  '62;  John  L.  Ore- 
baugh  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Jan.  16,  '65. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    THE    MUSTER-OUT     ROLL    OF    COM 
PANY  F,  81ST  OHIO^ 

NOTK. — This  Company  was  partially  organized  in  Aug- 
nst,  18(!1,  at  Cincinnati  and  Buena  Vista,  Ohio,  by  Captain 
0.  J.  DODDS  and  Lieutenant  W.  C.  HENRY.  In  August, 
1862,  it  was  made  a  minimum  company  by  the  consolida 
tion  with  it  of  Company  G — Captain  Kinsell — another  par 
tial  organization,  from  Morrow  county,  Ohio.  The  names 
of  the  members  of  ^Company  C,  transferred  to  this  com 
pany  in  December.  1*864,  are  not  inserted  here,  as  they  are 
given  with  their  own  company. 

Officers. — Captain  OZRO  J.  DODDS  appointed  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  2d  Alabama  Cavalry ;  last  appeared  on  company 
rolls  of  November  and  December,  1863.  First  Lieutenant 
W.  C.  HENRY,  promoted  to  Captain  of  company  H,  Oct.  2, 
1862.  First  Lieutenant  CHARLES  W.  LOCKWOOD  assigned 
to  company  with  recruits  of  1862  ;  promoted  to  Captain, 
Sept., '04;  resigned  Jan.  3,  '65.  Captain  R,  B.  KINSELL 
mustered  out  August,  1862,  upon  consolidation  of  compa 
nies  G  and  F.  First  Lieutenant  E.  A.  JAMES,  resigned 
June,  1862.  Second  Lieutenant  CALEB  J.  AYERS,  resigned 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY    F.      186 

Oct.,  31,  '62.  Second  Lieutenant  MAHLON  G.  BAILEY,  re 
signed  August  10.  '(>'2.  First  Sergeant  B.  11.  Howeil.  pru- 
inoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  Sept.  f>.  '(j'2  :  to  First  Lieuten 
ant,  Aug.  15,  '64;  to  Captain,  Mar.  27,  '65.  Sergeant  Wil 
liam  Pittman  promoted  to  Sergeant-Major  May  1,  '63  ;  to 
Second  Lieutenant,  June  20,  :64;  to  First  Lieutenant,  Nov. 
1,  '64;  discharged  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  ser 
vice,  Mar.  27,  '65. 

Jf'isfered  Out  with  Regiment  July  13,  1865. — Sergeant  Ma 
rion  S.  Day;  Corporals  William  Bates,  John  Hayslip,  Xa- 
poleon  S.  Bowker,  Benjamin  F.  Hartwell.  Privates — vet 
erans — George  Allington,  Zelas  V.  Franklin.  James  Hoff 
man,  James  Kennedy,  Abram  Lewis,  William  McCandless, 
John  Yastine.  Recruits — William  Allington,  Charles  II. 
Baird,  (?65.)  Peter  Comfort,  Thomas  Casey,  Stephen  C'or- 
win,  Clay  I.  Day,  Albert  W.  Griffith.  Adam  Green,  George 
G.  Krtig,  Jacob  E.  Minnick.  William  II.  Milam,  William  W. 
Merrill,  ('65,)  Cyrus  Mitchell,  William  Pry  or,  Andrew  M. 
Rose.  Under- cook — Robert  Cox. 

Killed  in  Battle. — Sergeant  James  Corrothers,  May  14, 
'64,  Lay's  Ferry.  Ga. ,  Corporal  Abner  McCall,  Oct.  3  '62, 
Corinth,  Miss.;  David  H.  Brown,  Oct.  3,  '62,  Corinth,  Miss.; 
Leman  P.  Gifford,  Oct.  3,  '62,  Corinth,  Miss. 

Died  of  Wounds.— Color-Sergeant  David  W.  McCall,  Oct. 
4,  '62,  (wounded  same  day,)  Corinth.  Miss.;  Durbin  French, 
May  16,  '64,  (wounded  same  day,  at  battle  of  Rome  Cross 
Roads);  John  D.  Truit,  July  28,  '64,  (wounded  July  22, 
before  Atlanta)  ;  John  R.  Thompson,  Sept.  5,  '64,  (wounded 
July  22,  before  Atlanta.) 

Died  of  Disease. — Sergeant  Josiah  B.  Truit,  Rome.  Ohio, 
June  3,  '62  ;  Jonathan  Burgett,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Dec.  11,  '62; 
Judson  D  Eldridge,  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  11,  ;63 ;  James  F. 
Farlow,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Feb.  9  '63;  John  Hoover,  Paducah, 
Ky.,  Nov.  21,  '63  ;  Abram  Hoover,  Dallas,  Ga.,  June  5.  '64  ; 
John  W.  Joh,  Camp  Chase,  O.,  Nov.  28,  ?64 ;  James  Ker- 
win,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  1864;  Daniel  N.  Peterson.  Corinth,  Mi>s., 
Nov.  26,  '62  ;  Walter  Scott,  Chattanooga,  tenn.,  Sept.  29, 
1864  ;  Samuel  Stephens.  Pocahontas,  Tenn..  1863 ;  William 
Thompson,  Lynnville,  Tenn.,  April  5,  '64. 


180  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Transferred. — First  Sergeant  William  Pittman  to  Non 
commissioned  Staff,  May  1,  '63;  Sergeant  John  R.  Cham- 
berlin  to  Non-commissioned  Staff,  appointed  Sergeant-Ma 
jor,  Mar.  1,  '63  ;  Joseph  S.  Campbell  to  Non-commissioned 
Staff,  March  25,  '65  ;  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  May. 
1865;  not  mustered;  Richard  Laycox  to  Non-commis 
sioned  Staff,  as  chief  musician,  May  1,  '63  ;  James  Maddox 
to  company  II,  Nov.  15,  '62  ;  Joseph  Rogers  to  company 
H,  Nov.  15,  '62  ;  Uriah  V.  Ryan  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
April  1,  '65  ;  Thomas  J.  Simpson  to  company  H,  Nov.  15, 
'62;  William  D.  Stephens  to  Non-commissioned  Staff,  Dec. 
13,  '64  ;  James  II.  Tucker,  Thomas  P.  Whalen  and  Samuel 
Watts  to  company  H,  Nov.  15,  '62. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Joseph  Britton,  no  date;  Al 
len  L.  Burress,  Jan.  25,  '65;  Abner  J.  Bird,  May  3,  '65; 
John  Cnopelinkx,  July  11, '62;  Jarvis  S.  Cox,  Aug.  12,'62; 
John  R.  Dvvyre,  March  11,  63  ;  Asher  B.  Ely,  Aug.  25,  '62  ; 
Joseph  G-leason,  Aug.  25, '62 ;  Marion  Hartwell,  May  19, 
'65;  William  H.  II.  Kennedy,  Oct.  3,  '62;  Jacoo  Lofland, 
July  9,  '62;  John  P.  Lyons,  Aug.  7,  '62;  William  Lyon, 
Oct.  21,  '62;  Alonzo  Mootz,  Sept.  10,  '62;  Henry  C.  Na 
tion,  June  19,  '65;  Silas  Peterson,  Aug.  18,  '62;  Joseph 
Potts,  Oct.  10,  '62;  Charles  Ridenour,  Oct.  3,  '62;  Frank 
Ridenour— no  date  ;  William  M.  Shafer,  Aug.  22,  '62. 

Discharged  on  Expiration  of  Term  of  Service  prior  to  July 
13,  1865. — First  Sergeants  Wesley  K.  James,  Albert  B. 
Baird  ;  Sergeants — Samuel  Devoss,  Gideon  Howe,  Ira 
Hartwell,  Daniel  W.  Potts,  Marcus  L.  Newland,  John  W. 
Teverbaugh,  William  Wehrly;  Corporals — James  Wood- 
worth,  George  W.  Piaster,  Leonard  Young,  James  W.  Gal- 
leher,  Price  J.  Jones,  Daniel  Cooper,  Silas  Richey,  George 
A.  Growl,  Samuel  J.  Bunger;  Privates — George  W.  Berry, 
William  A.  Brown.  Truman  Bowker,  James  P.  Brown, 
Henry  Baker,  Aaron  E.  Bunger,  Henry  A.  Bunger,  Dan 
iel  J.  Banta,  Oreon  Clark,  Moses  Clark,  George  W.  Cun 
ningham,  Thomas  Doyal,  John  A.  Ford,  William  II.  Fur- 
nier,  Elisha  Gleason,  John  Givens,  John  Gleason,  James 
Groves,  James  Gumming,  Samuel  M.  Hayward,  Robert 
Inscho,  Augustus  Jones,  John  E.  Jones,  Caleb  S.  Jeffries, 
Davis  E.  James,  \Villiarn  Klein,  Alexander  Mann,  Guilfbrd 
G.  Nichols,  John  W.  Porter,  James  T.  Pitts,  Wiley  Peter- 


EIGHTY -FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  G.      187 

son,  Samuel  J.  Rogers.  Clark  Richards,  William  H.  Stiles, 
Sylvester  Shipman,  William  Wagoner,  Noah  Wehrly. 

Officers  Assigned  to  Company  F. — Captain  David  S.  Van 
Pelt,  May  17,  '64 ;  Captain  W.  A.  Johnson,  April  25,  '65  ; 
Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  Ilarbaugh,  1864  ;  Lieutenant  Wil 
liam  M.  Murphy,  Aug.  15,  '64. 


ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  COMPANY  G,  81ST  OHIO,  OR 
GANIZED  AT  LIMA,  OHIO,  OCTOBER,  1862,  BY  CAPTAIN 
GEORGE  W.  OVERMYER. 

Captain  GEORGE  W.  OVERMYER,  First  Lieutenant  CALEB 
J.  SPRAGUE,  Second  Lieutenant  MATHEW  A.  FERGUSON. 

Sergeants. — First  Sergeant  Thomas  J.  Harbaugh  ;  Fred 
erick  Tester,  Samuel  Dotson,  William  H.  Richardson,  Amos 
J.  Nichols. 

Corporals. — John  H.  Benton,  Walter  Knapp,  William 
Parrish,  David  Brandt,  Andrew  R.  Sakemiller,  Josiah  C. 
Davy,  Edwin  D.  Randall,  Robert  S.  Marshall. 

Musicians. — Leonard  L.  Spach,  Isaiah  Westbay. 

Teamster. — William  V.  Beatty. 

Privates. — George  Arnold,  Joseph  Boker.  Lester  A.  Bab- 
cock,  Francis  M.  Blew,  George  W.  Bunu,  Joseph  T.  Bush- 
ong,  John  F.  Bogart,  George  Barrick,  Lewis  Bellinger,  An 
thony  Bowsher,  John  Q.  Baker,  John  W.  Boston,  Paul 
Buehler,  Samuel  D.  Bolender,  Henry  Conkle,  Samuel  Camp 
bell,  Seth  Campbell,  William  Campbell,  Samuel  D.  Clip- 
pinger,  Isaac  Conkle,  Thomas  Doyle,  Samuel  R.  Detwiler, 
Peter  Edmonds,  Beniah  Fleming,  Lafayette  Fruchey,  Dan 
iel  W.  Frazee,  David  E.  Fritz,  Elmer  Hartshorn,  Vinson 
S.  Hance,  William  H.  Kcnnell,  William  Kimble,  Benjamin 
Knapp,  Robert  Kiracofe,  William  Kindred,  Adam  Kinsel, 
Joseph  Lilley,  David  Lininger,  Levi  Lytle,  William  H. 
Lytle,  Franklin  Light,  James  Leslie,  Abram  Laman,  John 
McComb,  David  McCallister,  Philip  Munch,  Ephraim  Mor- 
ey,  Andrew  Miller.  Benjamin  McBride,  James  Mills,  Chas. 
Nimo,  William  Osman,  Daniel  Overholser.  John  O'Neal, 
Christopher  Overholser,  Daniel  W.  Pence,  Michael  Philbin, 
William  P.  Pritchard,  Jeremiah  Parker,  John  Reichelder- 
fer,  Stephen  Reed,  Calvin  C.  Runyan,  Francis  J.  Roby, 
Benjamin  F.  Sherrick,  James  D.  Smith,  William  Shellen- 


188  HISTORY  OF  THE 

barger,  Daniel  Shappell,  John  G.  Shappell,  Nelson  Shap- 
pell,  Levi  Stebelton,  James  II.  Smith,  Jamb  .) .  Sakuniller, 
William  Starncr,  Louis  Stocklen,  John  W.  Stopher.  Daniel 
F.  Stemen,  David  Salyards,  John  Stritt,  William  Thomp 
son,  John  F.  Tunerman,  Michael  Whisler,  Andrew  \Va^o- 
ner,  John  Ward. 

Recruits. — Protector  L.  Mounts,  Milton  L.  Mounts,  Eman- 
uel  Barrick,  James  C.  Parker.  Under-eook — Sam'l  Wright. 

Promotions. — First  Sergeant  Thomas  J.  Harbaugh  to 
Quartermaster-Sergeant,  June  27, '64 ;  to  2d  Lieutenant, 
August  15,  '64;  to  1st  Lieutenant,  March  26,  1865; 
Sergeant  S.  Dotson  to  First  Sergeant,  June  27,  '64 ; 
to  Second  Lieutenant,  May,  ;65 ;  not  mustered.  Cor 
poral  John  II.  Benton  to  Sergeant,  Jan.  31,  '63;  Corporal 
Walter  Knapp  to  Sergeant,  March  1,  '63;  Corporal  A.  R. 
Sakemiller  to  Sergeant,  July  1,  '64;  Corporal  John  Eeich- 
elderfer  to  Sergeant,  July  24,  '64,  for  gallantry  in  action, 
July  22;  '64. 

Killed  in  Action. — Samuel  D.  Clippinger,  Aug.  7,  '64,  be 
fore  Atlanta;  Philip  Munch,  Aug.  21,  '64,  before  Atlanta. 

Missing.— Daniel  W.  Frazee,  Aug.  26,  '64,  before  Atlan 
ta  ;  supposed  to  have  died  in  Andersonville  prison. 

Died  of  Wounds. — Sergeant  Andrew  R.  Sakemiller,  July 
24,  '64,  wounded  before"  Atlanta,  July  22,  '64;  William  EL 
Kennell,  May  19,  '64;  wounded  at  Lay's  Ferry,  Ga.,  May 
14,  '64;  Joseph  Lilley,  June  4,  '65,  of  injuries  received  on 
Railroad,  Martinsburg,  Va. ;  Ephraim  Morey,  June  8,  '64; 
wounded  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  30,  '64;  James  K.  Smith, 
June  18,  '64,  wounded  at  Lay's  Ferry,  Ga.,  May  14,  1864. 

Died  of  Disease. — Corporal  Benjamin  MoBride.  Pocahon- 
tas,  Tenn.,  July  2,  '63;  William  Parrish,  Corinth,  Miss., 
March  9,  '63;  Samuel  Campbell,  Corinth,  Miss.,  March  11, 
'63  ;  William  Campbell,  Corinth,  Miss.,  March  15,  '63  ;  Pe 
ter  Edmonds,  Morehead  City,  N.  C.,  Feb.  13,  '65  ;  Elmer 
Hartshorn,  Rome,  Ga.,  July  12,  '64;  Adam  Kinsall,  Atlan 
ta,  Ga.,  Aug.  10,  '64;  David  Lininger,  Memphis,  Dec.  22, 
'63  ;  James  Leslie,  Nashville,  Nov.  2^'64 ;  Andrew  Miller, 
Corinth,  Miss.,  March  3,  '63  ;  John  O'Neal,  Pocahontas, 
Tenn.,  Aug.  20,  '63;  Jeremiah  Parker,  Lee  &  Gordon's 
Mills,  Ga,,"May  10.  ;(J4 ;  Daniel  F.  Stemen,  Corinth,  Miss., 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  H.      189 

Feb.  15,  '63;  William  Shellenbarger,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Mar. 
15,  '63;  John  Stritt.  Corinth,  Miss.,  July  28,  '63  ;  William 
Starner,  Rome,  Ga.,  Sept.  23,  '64;  Isaiah  Westbay.  Lima, 
Ohio,  March  7,  '64. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Sergeant  Amos  J.  Nichols, 
Jan.  28,  '63  ;  David  Brandt,  Jan.  14,  '63  ;  George  W.  Bunn, 
Feb.  9,  '65;  Paul  Buehler,  June  9,  '65;  Seth  Campbell, 
Sept.  19,  '63;  William  F.  Pritchard,  Feb.  21,  '63;  Benja 
min  Knapp,  June  5,  '65  ;  Nelson  Shappell,  Jan.  5,  '65. 

Transferred. — First  Sergeant  Thomas  J.  Harbaugh  to 
Non-commissioned  Staff,  promoted  to  Quartermaster  Ser 
geant.  .June  27,  '64;  Corporal  Robert  S.  Marshall  to  Vet 
eran  Reserve  Corps,  April  1,  '65  ;  Lester  A.  Babcock  to 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps — no  date  ;  David  Salyards  to  Vet 
eran  Reserve  Corps — no  date. 

Discharged. — Captain  GEORGE  W.  OVERMYER,  honorably 
discharged,  (physical  disability,)  Nov.  10,  '64;  First  Lieu 
tenant  CALEB  J.  SPRAGUE,  honorably  discharged,  Special 
Order,  No.  15,  War  Department,  Jan  10,  '65  ;  Second  Lieu 
tenant  M.  A.  FERGUSON,  honorably  discharged  July  10,  '63. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  COMPANY  H,  81ST  OHIO,  OR 
GANIZED  IN  ADAMS  AND  SCIOTO  COUNTIES,  OHIO. 
AUGUST  AND  SEPTEMBER,  1862,  BY  CAPTAIN  W.  C. 
HENRY. 

Captain  W.  C.  HENRY;  First  Lieutenant  WESLEY  B. 
GUTHRIE  ;  Second  Lieutenant  ROBERT  E.  RONEY. 

Sergeants. — 1st  Sergeant  William  M.  Murphy;  Harry  C. 
Doddridge,  Robert  S.  Anderson,  William  G.  Bradford, 
Daniel  Wehrley. 

Corporals. — John  R.  Baird,  William  Bridwell,  John  B. 
Young,  William  E.  Walker,  John  N.  Morfin,  Harlan  P. 
Maxwell,  William  A.  Worley,  William  H.  Howard. 

Musicians. — John  Edmiston,  David  A.  Bridwell. 

Privates. — Albert  Arthurs,  George  Adkins,  Thomas 
Armstrong,  John  Boynton,  William  Burns,  Isaac  P.  Clark, 
George  W.  Cook,  Silas  H.  Clark,  John  L.  Cox,  Ross  Court 
ney,  David  Carter,  Elisha  Decker,  Warren  J.  Dear,  Wm. 
J.  Ferguson,  William  H.  H.  Finton,  Andrew  H.  Gifford, 
John  C.  Horner,  Christopher  Hockaden,  Valentine  H. 
Hafer,  Thomas  Hutch inson,  Alfred  W.  Hastings,  Jacob  C. 


190  HISTORY    OF  THE 

Hurlen,  "William  Jones,  Xanthus  M.  Kennedy,  William  J. 
Kindall,  William  King  (1st,)  Stephen  Kirkendall,  Wm. 
King  (2<1,)  George  W.  Kirkpatrick,  Moses  Likens,  Allen 
Lewis,  Benjamin  Manley,  Samuel  Morrison,  Ezekiel  Monk, 
James  Moore,  David  A.  Murphy,  William  Monk,  Jesse 
Monk,  Sampson  Milliron,  George  W.  Milliron,  John 
McGinn,  James  K.  Manley,  Christopher  Oppy,  William  F. 
Oppy,  James  Peyton,  Rufus  F.  Panloy,  John  Riley,  Na 
thaniel  Riley,  Peter  Riley,  George  Riley,  William  Riley, 
Robert  M.  Rogers,  Philip  Smiley,  John  Smiley,  Alpheus 
Smith,  Francis  A.  Swearingen,  James  H.  Sloan,  John 
Southard,  Isaac  0.  Thompson,  Joseph  R.  Thompson;  Miles 
P.  Thompson,  Christopher  J.  Thompson,  William  Thomp 
son,  Isaac  Thomason,  William  Tucker,  Francis  M.  Tum- 
bleson,  Charles  Tumbleson,  Xanthus  W.  Tracy,  Franklin 
Tracy,  George  Vastine,  William  Walk. 

Recruits. — John  Price,  Aaron  Clark ;  of  '65,  James 
McNeil,  John  O.  D.  Ryan,  Patrick  Leary,  Christian 
Oeks,  Eric  Zackish, McDonald. 

Transferred  from  Company  F,  Nov.  1st,  1862. — Joseph 
Rogers,  James  H.  Tucker,  James  Maddox,  Samuel  T. 
Watts,  Thomas  J.  Simpson,  Thomas  P.  Whalen. 

Promotions. — Captain  W.  C.  HENRY  to  Major,  Nov.  1,  '64  ; 
Lieutenant  W.  B.  GUTHRIE  to  Captain,  May  18,  '64;  Lieu 
tenant  R.  E.  RONEY  to  First  Lieutenant,  May  18,  '64 ; 
First  Sergeant, ^William  M.  Murphy  to  Sergeant-Major, 
July  1,  1864;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Aug.  15,  '64;  to  First 

Lieutenant, '65  ;  Sergeant  Daniel  Wehrley  to  First 

Sergeant, ;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  May,  1865,  not 

mustered;  Corporal  Miles  P.  Thompson  to  Sergeant,  for 
meritorious  conduct,  May  10,  '65. 

Killed  in  Action. — James  Maddox,  July  22,  '64 ;  James 
K.  Manley,  Aug.  11,  '64,  before  Atlanta. 

Died  from  Wounds — Corporal  Wm.  H.  Howard,  May  31, 
'64,  wounded  at  Rome  Cross  Roads,  May  16,  '64 ;  Corporal 
Samuel  T.  Watts,  May  25,  '64,  wounded  at  Rome  Cross 
Roads ;  Elisha  Decker,  Aug.  5,  '64,  wounded  before  At 
lanta,  July  22,  '64. 

Died  of  Disease. — Thomas  Hutch inson,  October  9,  '62, 
Camp  Lima,  Ohio;  Isaac  P.  Clark,  Feb.  14,  '63,  Corinth, 
Miss.;  Francis  M.  Tumbleson,  March  5,  '63,  Corinth,  Miss.; 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  I.       191 

John  McGinn,  April  ,4  '63,  Corinth,  Miss.;  Samuel  Morri 
son,  July  3,  '63,  Corinth,  Miss.;  Isaac  0.  Thompson,  Aug. 
31,  '63,  Memphis,  Tenn.;  Wm.  T.  Oppy,  Aug.  6,  '63,  Jeffer 
son  Barracks,  Mo.;  George  Adkins,  April  7.  ;64,  Lynnville, 
Tenn.;  Christopher  Oppy,  Sept.  14,  '64.  Rome,  Ga. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Ezekiel  Monk,  Nov.  25,  '62 
George  W.  Kirkpatrick,  March  6,  '63. 

Discharged  to  accept  Promotion. — Corporal  Harlan  P 
Maxwell,  June  5,  '63;  received  appointment  in  colored 
Eegiment ;  William  King,  (2d,)  Jan.  1.  '64,  appointed 
Chaplain,  colored  regiment;  Sergeant  William  G.  Brad 
ford,  Jan.  21,  '64,  received  commission  in  colored  regi 
ment. 

Resigned. — Lieutenant  ROBERT  E.  RONEY,  Oct.,  'C4. 

Captured. — Sergeant  Harry  C.  Doddridge,  at  Rome  Cross 
Roads.  May  16,  '64  ;  released  April  28,  '65,  tendered  com 
mission  of  First  lieutenant. 

ORIGINAL  MEMBERS  OF  COMPANY  I,  81ST  OHIO,  OR 
GANIZED  AT  GREENFIELD,  OHIO.  BY  CAPTAIN  GIB 
SON,  IN  THE  MONTH  OF  AUGUST,  1862. 

Captain  JAMES  GIBSON,  First  Lieutenant  HUGH  Iv.  S. 
ROBINSON,  Second  Lieutenant.  JAMES  C.  CRAWFORD. 

Sergeants. — First  Sergeant  Thomas  N.  Sellers;  Charles 
J.  Bell,  Hamilton  J.  Sellers,  John  N.  Hays,  John  A. 
Schum. 

Corporals. — William  G.  Moore,  Thomas  A.  Blain,  Alex 
ander  M.  Long,  John  L.  Anderson,  William  J.  Parrett, 
John  R.  Porter,  John  T.  Collier,  Robert  J.  McAlpin. 

Musicians. — John  S.  Miller,  Archibald  S.  Middleton. 

Teamster. — Mahlon  C.  Swan. 

Privates. — Stephen  T.  Allen,  James  C.  Anderson,  David 
M.  Allemang,  John  S.  Baker,  James  N.  Beatty,  George 
Beeler,  Josiah  Binns,  James  M.  Binns,  Mason  R.  Blizzard, 
George  A.  Buchanan,  Jacob  Burst,  Daniel  Campbell,  Ben 
jamin  Campbell,  William  Caffee,  Lafayette  Coffey.  Mitchell 
G.  Collier,  James  A.  Collier,  William  W.  Crawford,  George 
Crawford,  David  Crawford,  Jonas  Crawford,  Lorenzo  D. 
Crute,  Elijah  G.  Davis,  George  W.  Day. James  M.  Dolohan, 
Benjamin  Eddyburn,  Peter  Egan,  Joseph  S.  Fernau,  James 
H.  Freshour,  Thomas  N.  Ghormley,  John  W.  Griffith, 
Jesse  Harper,  James  Heavilin,  George  W.  Heslep,  John  E. 
A.  Himiller,  Isaiah  Hudnell,  Junius  Hudnell.  Garland 


192  HISTORY   OF    THE 

King,  Peter  J.  Kline,  George  A.  Kline,  George  W.  Knedler, 
John  W.  Knedler,  Alexander  F.  Leake,  James  M.  Lemon, 
Henry  Long,  Alexander  Long,  Richard  Lucas,  John  W. 
Mains,  William  Martin,  Jacob  McFarland,  Joseph  McClain, 
Robert  McDill,  Edward  McGuire,  Wm.  E.  McOreary,  Wm. 
August  Meier,  Jacob  M.  Meier,  Allison  B.  Michael,  Zacha- 
riah  W.  Michael,  Auretius  C.  Middleton,  Henry  T.  Mussel- 
man,  Peter  Miles,  John  S.  Myers,  Henry  C.  Nevin,  James 
M.  Naylor,  Joseph  IL  Nixon,  Marcus  T.  Parrett,  Cornelius 
C.  Platter,  George  H.  Reed,  Henry  Robinson,  Alexander 
B.  Rogers,  Joseph  Schum,  William  W.  Stoops,  Philip 
Stoops,  Andrew  Stout,  William  B.  Summersett,  Henry  R. 
Templeton,  Joseph  M.  Tudor,  William  H.  Waugh,  George 
W.  Wise,  William  L.  Wise,  Bernard  Witte,  Harry  H. 
Workman,  Grant  S.  Wright. 

Recruits.— (1864)  William  R.  Barrett,  (1865)  James 
Wise.  John  Krautz,  Theodore  Lorenthal,  John  L.  Rob 
ertson. 

Promotions. — Second  Lieutenant,  JAMES  C.  CRAWFORD 
to  First  Lieutenant,  Sept.  13,  '64;  to  Captain,  March  26, 
'65;  1st  Serg't  T.  N.  Sellers  to  2d  Lieutenant,  June  27,  '64; 
to  1st  Lieut.,  Mar.  27,  '65 ;  Sergt.  J.  N.  Hays  to  1st  Sergt., 
June  27,  '64;  to  Quartermaster  Sergt.,  Sept.  1,  '64;  to  1st 
Lieut..  Mar.  26,  '65;  appointed  Regimental  Quartermaster, 
Apr.  25,  '65  ;  Private  (J.  C.  Platter  to  Quartermaster  Sergt., 
March  1,  '63;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  June  27,  '64;  to 
First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  Nov.  1,  '64;  to  Captain, 
March  28,  '65  ;  Corporal  Alexander  M.  Long,  to  Sergeant, 
Sept.  27,  '64  ;  Corporal  John  T.  Collier  to  Sergeant,  Aug. 
10,  '64;  to  1st  Sergeant,  Sept.  1,  '64;  to  Quartermaster 
Sergeant,  May  24,  '65;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  May,  V>r>f 
not  mustered  ;  Corporal  R.  J.  McAlpin  to  Sergeant,  Dec. 

21,  '63;  Sergeant  John  B.  Schum  to  1st  Sergeant,  June  16, 
'65;  Private  P.    J.   Kline  to  Corporal,   June  27,   '64;  to 
Sergeant,  Nov.  1,  64;  Private  Elijah  G.  Davis  to  Corporal, 
Nov.  1,  '64  ;  to  Sergeant,  June  16,'  '65  ;  Private  J.  M.  Meier, 
to  Corporal,  Sept.  13,  "64;  to  Sergeant,  June  27,  '65. 

Killed  in  Btiltle. — Corporal    George  A.   Buchanan,  July 

22,  '64,"  before  Atlanta;  David  M.  Allemang,  July  22,  '64, 
before   Atlanta;    George    A.   Kline,    July   22,    '64,   before 
Atlanta;  Jacob  McFarland.  July  22,  '64,  before  Atlanta. 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS— COMPANY   I.       193 

Died  of  Wounds.— Mason  R.  Blizzard,  Sept.  2.  '64, 
wounded  near  Jonesboro',  Sept.  1,  '64;  Benjamin  Camp 
bell,  Oct.  19;  wounded  near  Atlanta,  Aug.  25,  '64;  Alex- 
F.  Leake,  July  23,  '64;  wounded  near  Atlanta,  July  22, 
'64. 

Died  of  Disease. — Sergeant  A.  M.  Long,  Atlanta,  Aug. 
9,  '64 ;  Corporals  William  G.  Moore,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Nov. 
27,  '62 ;  Thomas  A.  Blain,  Corinth,  Miss.,  March  19,  '63 ; 
Thomas  N.  Ghormley,  Greenfield,  O.,  March  9,  '64 ;  Win. 
13.  Waugh,  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Nov.  17,  '64. 

Privates. — James  M.  Binns,  Allatoona,  Ga.,  July  9,  '64 ; 
Josiah  Binns,  Marietta,  Ga.,  July  31,  '64;  William  R. 
Barrett,  Marietta,  Ga.,  July  31,  '64;  Lafayette  Coffey, 
Stevenson,  Ala.,  March  27,  '64;  Mitchell  G.  Collier,  Cor 
inth,  Miss.,  Feb.  10,  '63;  George  W.  Day,  Corinth,  Miss.; 
April  4,  '63;  Edward  McGuire,  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  26,  '63  : 
Robert  McDill,  New  York  City,  May  5,  '65 ;  George  H. 
Heed,  Corinth,  Miss.,  March  19,  '63;  Henry  Robinson, 
Corinth,  Miss.,  June  6,  '63  ;  Alexander  B.  Rogers,  Corinth, 
Miss.,  April  18,  '63 ;  William  W.  Stoops,  Marietta,  Ga., 
Aug.  18,  '64 ;  Archibald  B.  Middleton,  Allatoona.  Ga.,  July 

15,  '64. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Corporal  W.  J.  Parrett,  May 

16,  '65 ;  George  Beeler,  March  7,  '63 ;  William  W.  Craw- 
ford,  May  16,  '65 ;  James  M.  Dolohan,  Jan.  17,  '65 ;  James 
Heavilin,  Dec.    1,  '64;    John   W.  Knedler,  Jan.   1,  64; 
James  M.  Lemon,  June,  '65 ;  Aurelius  C.  Middleton,  May 
16,  '65 ;  Bernard  Witte,  June  20,  '65 ;  Major  Willis,  (un- 
der-cook,)  May  16,  '65. 

Discharged  for  Promotion. — T.  N.  Sellers,  commissioned 
Second  Lieutenant,  June  27,  '64;  H.  H.  Workman,  ap- 
pointed  First  Lieutenant  lllth  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry, 
Jan.  29,  '64. 

Transferred. — J.  N.  Hays,  Sept.  8,  '64,  to  Non-Commis- 
sioned  Staff ;  John  T.  Collier  to  Non-Commissioned  Staff, 
June  15,  '65 ;  C.  C.  Platter  to  Non-Commissioned  Staff, 
March  1,  '63. 

Resigned. — Capt.  JAMES  GIBSON,  (discharged  for  disabil 
ity,)     March    27,   1865;     First    Lieutenant    H.    K.    S. 
ROBINSON,  (discharged  for  disability;  wounded  at  battle 
of  Atlanta,  July  22,  '64,)  Nov.  11,  '64. 
16 


194  HISTORY  OF  THE         i  > 

EXTRACTS  FROM  MUSTER-OUT  ROLL  OF  COMPANY  K, 
ORGANIZED  AT  GALION.  O.,  AUGUST,  1862,  BY  CAP 
TAIN  B.  F.  MATTHIAS. 

Original  Officers. — Captain  B.  F.  MATTHIAS,  resigned, 
Dec.  31,  '62;  First  Lieutenant  CHARLES  LANE,  promoted 
to  Captain,  Feb.  20, '63 ;  killed  in  the  battle  of  Atlanta, 
July  22,  '64  ;  Second  Lieutenant  HEZEKIAH  HOOVER,  pro 
moted  to  First  Lieutenant,  Feb.  20,  '63  ;  killed  in  the  bat 
tle  of  Atlanta,  July  22,  '64. 

Promotions. — First  Sergeant  John  Allaback  to  Second 
Lieutenant,  Dec.  31,  '62;  to  First  Lieutenant,  Aug.  18,  '64  ; 
to  Captain,  May  25,  '65 ;  Sergeant  Thomas  H.  Imes  to 

First  Sergeant, 1863 ;  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Aug.  19, 

'64;  to  First  Lieutenant,  March  27,  '65;  Sergeant  Jacob 
Young  to  First  Sergeant,  Aug.  19,  '64 ;  to  Second  Lieu 
tenant,  May  24,  '65. 

Enlisted  Men  mustered  out  with  the  Regiment  July  13/A. 
1865.— Sergeants.— First  Sergeant  John  H.  Coulter;  \Vm.' 
C.  Quiglcy,  Hugo  Kehm,  Peter  Snyder,  James  Casey. 

Corporals. — Joseph  J.  Smart,  John  R.  Stoller,  Andrew 
"W.  Kerr,  Samuel  Brokaw,  Montgomery  Wise,  John  Schei- 
der,  Jacob  Smith,  Jacob  H.  Eby. 

Musicians. — Daniel  Cherry,  Samuel  Mob  ley. 

Privates. — Lcvi  Asman,  Delevan  Brewer,  John  Betsch, 
"William  F.  Brokaw,  Thomas  J.  Burwell,  John  Burkhart, 
William  Burnison,  Frederick  Betsch,  Samuel  Coulter, 
Christian  Craner,  William  B.  Dickey,  Justus  Dye,  David 
L.  Elder,  John  P.  Emerson,  Louis  Flick,  George  Fry, 
Noah  Finical,  Charles  S.  Garberick,  Matthias  Ginther, 
Jacob  Hill,  Benjamin  Hoffstetter,  Harrison  Harding,  Geo. 
Harmon,  Adam  Howard,  Aubert  E.  Humiston,  Samuel 
James,  James  S.  Johnson,  Joseph  Mutchler,  Samuel  Med 
ley,  William  Miller,  Michael  Newhouse,  Samuel  Pittman, 
John  Quigley,  Jonas  Ross,  David  Heece,  William  Eeece, 
Isaac  Shumaker,  James  Stall,  Henry  Schneider,  Thomas 
W.  Snyder,  Jacob  B.  Snyder,  George  Steinhelfer,  Asa 
Savage,  William  Snyder,  Jacob  H.  Sulser,  Samuel  Spiegle, 
Francis  M.  Sunderlin,  Jacob  Wonas,  John  Wert. 

Eecruits  of  1865. — Lemuel  Brush,  William  Butcher,  Ed 
win  Fullenwider,  George  Putnam,  Isaac  Rust,  William 
Roach,  John  A.  Smith,  Adam  Wisenger. 

Killed  in  Battle. — Benton  Karr,  John  Noblit. 

Died.—  Archibald  C.  Karr,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Dec.  1,  '62; 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO   INFANTRY  VOLS — COMPANY  K.      195 

Martin  McClellan,  Pocahontas,  Tenn.,  October  12,  '63  ; 
Samuel  G.  Bowlby,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Feb.  22,  '63 ;  Martin 
Elder,  Acworth,  Ga.,  June  9.  '64;  William  Gilford,  Poca 
hontas,  Tenn.,  July  5,  '63  ;  John  K.  Garberick,  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  July  13,  '63  ;  Joseph  Hopkins,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Feb. 
10,  '63 ;  James  W.  Igow,  Corinth,  Miss.,  July  21,  '63; 
Shannon  Lance,  Corinth,  Miss.,  Sept.  6,  '63 ,  James 
Kelson,  Mound  City,  111,,  Dec.  4,  '63;  George  A.  Poish, 
Marietta,  Ga.,  July  19,  '64;  John  Reed,  Marietta,  Ga., 
Aug.  1,  '64. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — James  IN".  Russell,  Sept.  19, 
'63;  Abraham  Shumaker,  Oct.  8,  '63;  Samuel  Shaffer, 
Feb.  4,  '65;  Martin  L.  Shall,  Feb.  21,  '65. 

Discharged  upon  expiration  of  term  of  service. — Stephen  Has- 
ford,  June  12,  '65;  John  Madlam,  June  3,  '65;  Michael 
Tracht,  May  3,  65  ;  Martin  L.  Teeple.  May  31,  '65  ;  Eli 
W.  Winters,  May  3,  '65 ;  Cline  J.  Wolff,  June  21,  '65. 

Transferred. — Walker  W.  McClain  to  Non-Commissioned 
Staff,  September  1,  '62. 

COMPANY  B,  ORGANIZED  AT  CINCINNATI,  O.,  MAKCH  24, 

1865. 

Captain,  IRA  PFOTJTZ,  First  Lieutenant,  DAVID  KINSEY, 
Second  Lieutenant,  GIDEON  HOWE. 

Sergeants — James  H.  Tucker,  promoted  to  Second  Lieu 
tenant,  May,  '65;  not  mustered;  Ira  B.  Links,  Samuel 
Devoss,  Charles  Miller,  Linden  Martz. 

Corporals. — Charles  1ST.  Harding,  William  Punches, 
Charles  Bosserd,  Samuel  Touran,  John  Sullivan,  Samuel 
S.  Nelson. 

Musician. — Henry  G.  Snyder. 

Privates. — John  Acherman,  David  Bennett,  Ferdinand 
Berkle,  Frederick  Berger,  Joseph  Berger,  Joseph  Branch, 
Reed  Brush,  James  Brush,  Anton  Burr,  Daniel  Capp, 
Frank  Casey,  Henry  Clouser,  William  H.  Crawford,  Elias 
Davis,  Daniel  K.  Drake,  Bulser  Duvirnger;  Thomas  H. 
Davenport,  Downs  Eby,  Nathaniel  Flanegan,  Charles 
Flater,  Levi  Ford,  Martin  Gallagher,  Edward  Garber, 
Samuel  Galey,  Thomas  H.  Gibson,  Robert  Hare,  Frede 
rick  Hill,  Reuben  Houst,  John  W.  Hicks,  David  Ibert, 
Geo.  Ihemer,  Lot  B.  Jay,  James  L.  Johnson,  Geo.  W.  Keifa- 


196  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ber,  William  Linn,  Elias  F.  Long,  Michael  Mcliugh,  John 
H.  McKinney,  Frederick  Meyer,  John  Moore.  Adam  Mur 
phy,  Uriah  T.  Nace,  Andrew  Nisironger,  James  K.  P. 
Nicholas,  Benjamin  M.  Page,  George  Petry,  John  Poison, 
Henry  Kesor,  W.  II.  Reynolds,  James  Reed,  Henry  C.  H. 
Howe,  William  Ross,  Levi  Routsing,  Patrick  Ryan,  Jacob 
Sickner,  Jas.  A.  Smith,  William  Smith,  Albert  J.  Sprinkle, 
James  E.  Sturtsman,  Joseph  Snow,  Jonathan  M.  Tress- 
ler,  Geo.  Wilson,  Augustus  Wissinger,  Samuel  L.  Watson. 

jDtecZ.-*-Lewis  Cook,  Newbern,  N.  C.,  May  5,  '65  ;  Geo. 
Deitwiler,  Kinston,  N.  C.,  March  27,  '65;  Philip  Stifler, 
Louisville,  Ky.,  June  27,  '65. 

Discharged  for  Disability. — Edward  Good,  June  3,  '65  ; 
Samuel  Rowe,  June  3 ;  Rufus  Williams,  July  4,  '65. 

Promoted, — Second  Lieutenant  Ira  PFOUTZ  to  Captain, 
May  24,  '65 ;  Second  Lieutenant  GIDEON  HOWE  to  First 
Lieutenant,  May  25,  '65. 


COMPANY   C,    ORGANIZED  AT  CINCINNATI,  OHIO,  FEB 
RUARY  14,  '65. 

Captain  RUFUS  K.  DARLING  ;  First  Lieutenant  PRICE  J. 
JONES  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  SETH  DIXON. 

Sergeants. — First  Sergeant  John  D.  Niswinger,  promoted 
to  Second  Lieutenant,  May,  '65  ;  not  mustered  ;  James  H. 
Forsyth,  Joseph  Wiley,Charles  H.  Withers,John  Anderson. 

Corporals — Albert  A.  Ward,  William  J.  Compton,  Evan 
Lewis,  William  Dornbush,  John  Whalon,  William  T. 
Price,  Uriah  B.  Malott, 

Teamster.— James  F.  Pitts. 

Privates.— William  Alexander,  Patrick  Blake,  George  W. 
Barns,  Andrew  J.  Bays,  Gean  Bernard,  William  Barrett, 
James  Cordell,  George  D.  Cramer,  William  J.  Chapman, 
Robert  H.  Edwards,  James  H.  Evans,  Thomas  Edwards, 
Jackson  D.  Forsyth,  Michael  Fallon,  Bennett  J.  Fenner, 
William  Ford,  Barnhart  Flack,  William  Finke,  George 
W.  Fritz,  John  T.  Graham,  William  Glasgow,  Charles 
Harden,  Edward  D.  Hudson,  Jeremiah  T.  Herron,  Wm. 
Hitchens,  Wm.  B.  Jones,  Henry  J.  Kerr,  John  King, 
Joseph  M.  Kremer,  Theodore  Klingshore,  William  Lighter, 
Daniel  McDermott,  William  McAifee,  Samuel  M.  Mitchell, 


EIGHTY-FIRST  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLS-LIST  OF  WOUNDED.   197 

George  Miesel,  Alfred  Quails,  Joseph  Kogers,  Sylvanus 
Ruse,  John  Randolph,  George  W.  Randalls,  Edwin  P. 
Rollins,  Moses  B.  Stout,  William  H.  Sellers,  James  Shan 
non,  Peter  Shannon,  Emrich  Smith,  Thomas  Self,  Clinton 
Sullenberger,  Homer  Sheely,  William  F.  Taylor,  William 
H.  Turner,  Carey  A.  Wikoff,  Jared  Wallace,  George  Wil 
liams,  Rudolph  Zaspel,  John  S.  Zinkhorn. 

Died.—'Burr  Taylor,  Louisville,  June  21,  '65. 

Discharged— In  compliance  with  War  Department  order, 
James  A.  Bassett. 

Transferred.— J.  H.  Bueltel,  appointed  principal  musician; 
transferred  to  Non-Commissioned  Staff;  Samuel  A.  Baird 
to  Company  H;  First  Lieutenant  P.  J.  JONES  to  Company 
H,  June  29,  '65. 

Promoted.— Second  Lieutenant  SETH  DIXON  to  First 
Lieutenant. 


LIST    OF    WOUNDED. 

Battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6  and  7, 1862. 

James  II.  Corns,  company  B  ;  William  A.  Johnson,  John 
Mader,  Elijah  Furry,  David  Y.  Lyttle  and  F.  A.  Sayre, 
company  C  ;  W.  D.  Tyler,  Oliver  H.  P.  Reed,  Sam'l  Doam 
and  Jacob  Miller,  company  D  ;  Lewis  Swearingen,  Jacob 
Gensel,  Frank  McGinnis  and  Martin  F.  Kintz,  company  E  ; 
George  Easter,  John"  Dwyer,  Charles  Willby  and  Charles 
Ridenour,  company  F;  John  R.  Chamberlin,  Sergeant- 
Major.  Total,  19. 

Battle  of  Corinth,  October  3  and  4, 1862. 
See  pages  32  and  33.     Total,  44. 

Battles  of  Oostenaula  and  Home  Cross  Roads,  May  14, 
15  and  16,  1864. 

Jesse  W.  Baird,  William  Adams,  Aaron  Zircle  and  R. 
K.  Darling,  company  A;  Gideon  Ditto,  Washington  Mar 
tin  and  D.  H.  Bush,  company  B  ;  John  C.  McAlpin  and 
John  A.  Wilson,  company  C  ;  E.  C.  Longabaugh,  company 


198  HISTORY  OP  THE 

D  ;  Frank  Kidenour,  A.  B.  Baird,  M.  Bowker,  Eobert  In- 
scho,  Clark  Richards,  Samuel  J.  Rogers,  Durbin  French, 
and  William  Furnier,  company  F ;  William  Kennell  and 
James  K.  Smith,  company  G;  Samuel  T.  Watts,  William 
Kindell,  John  Boynton  and  William  H.  Howard,  company 
H ;  Henry  Nevin.  G.  W.  Wise  and  Thomas  N.  Sellers,  com 
pany  I ;  S.  Shaffer  and  Joseph  Mutchler,  company  K  ; 
Major  Frank  Evans.  Total,  29. 

Battle  of  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864. 

Lieutenant  H.  K.  S.  ROBINSON,  company  I;  R.  W.  Vance, 
Henry  Garee,  John  Miller  and  Samuel  Mottier,  company 
A;  Gideon  Ditto,  J.  W.  Peltier,  M.  D.  Mason,  Thomas  A. 
Maltbie  and  W.  T.  Caskey,  company  B  ;  Calvin  P.  McClel 
land,  Noble  B.  Caldwell  and  John  M.  Estle,  company  C ; 
Robert  M.  Reed,  Patrick  Kelly,  Thomas  P.  Cooper  and 

D.  A.  Hagerman,  company  D ;    A.  Moneftmith,  Reuben 
White,  L.  Stevenson,  James  M.  Potterf  and  Jacob  Cail, 
company  E ;  Samuel  Devoss,  Ira  Hartwell,  Leonard  Young, 
J.  R.  Thompson,  W.  A.  Stiles,  James  Woodworth,  Jacob 

E.  Minnick  and  John  A.  Ford,  company  F  ;  A.  R.  Sake- 
miller,  George  W.  Bunn,  Vinson  S.  Hance  and  John  Arn 
old,  company  G;  W.  J.  Ferguson,  B.  Kennedy,  E.  Decker, 
T.  J.  Simpson  and  James  Peyton,  company  H  ;  John  B. 
Schum,  James  H.  Freshour,  William  L.  Wise,  Junius  Hud- 
nell,  John  W.  Griffith   and  Jacob  M.  Meier,  company  I ; 
Samuel  Brokaw,  A.  J.  Smart,  Samuel  Spiegle,  Harrison 
Harding,  William  Reese,  Henry  Snyder,  Jacob  Sulser  and 
Isaac  Shumaker,  company  K.     Total,  53. 

Miscellaneous. 

Before  Atlanta,  Aug.,  1864,  Captain  W.  H.  HILL  ;  David 
B.  Buckles  and  Frederick  Conkle,  company  A;  U.  B. 
Rush,  company  C  ;  S.  Strubridge,  company  E  ;  W.  A. 
Brown,  company  F ;  Jonesboro,  Aug.  31,  Colonel  R.  N. 
ADAMS,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  W.  TITUS  ;  David  C.  John 
son,  company  C  ;  William  Crawford,  company  I ;  North 
Carolina,  1865,  S.  T.  Wiley  and  John  M.  Henuess,  com 
pany  C  ;  R.  McDill,  company  I ;  Noah  Finical  and  Thom 
as  J.  Burwell,  comany  K.  Total,  15. 

Whole  number  wounded,  160. 

NOTK.— The  "miscellaneous"  portion  of  this  list  is  far  from  complete,  but 
it  could  not  be  made  fuller.  The  whole  number  of  wounded  amount*  to  mor» 
than  one  hundred  and  sixty. 


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